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 73

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 73

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The subject of building water-works for the city was first discussed in the City Council, in 1848. The first official action in the matter was taken by the Council June 5 of that year, when a committee was appointed to examine the springs northeast of the city and report as to the advisability of bringing in the water.

Again in July, 1848, a Mr. Bartle petitioned for certain privileges, for the purpose of furn-

ishing the city with water from these springs. The matter was referred to a committee to report at an adjourned meeting. Mr. A. L. Grimes made a favorable report, and the matter was again referred to a committee to make a contraet. For some reason, however, the project failed. In December of the same year, a Mr. Maize petitioned for aid to erect water-works. The matter was favorably consid- ered by the Council, but with no practical results. For twenty years, there was only an occasional spasmodie effort in the direction of water-works, but in 1870, it began to be talked up in earnest, and the first decisive action was had at the April election of 1871, when the people decided by a large majority, that a long-felt want should be supplied. The matter having been decided, the Council in May, 1871, ordered an election for Water Works Trustees, which resulted in the selection of Messrs. H. R. Smith, A. C. Cum- mings and S. B. Sturges. These gentlemen were given great discretionary powers, and ex- ecuted the trusts confided to them with fidelity and ability. They first visited various places to study the workings of different systems of water-works, and came " to the unanimous con- clusion that the Holly system of pumping direct through the mains, was the best and cheapest." Whatever the merits of other systems, the Holly was considered best for Mansfield on account of the high elevation of the city above the water to be used-some 220 feet, at the high- est point. The works consist simply of appara- tus of sufficient strength, and sufficient steam power, to force the necessary quantity of water through iron pipes to this height, and as much higher as might be necessary in case of fire.

Ground was first broken May 15, 1871, and the work carried rapidly forward ; the city ad- vancing $500 to meet immediate expenses, the City Council voting the issue of bonds to the amount of $175,000. E. McCoy was em- ployed by the trustees, as foreman in the pre- liminary work. The water was taken out of

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Rocky Fork, 450 feet above the works. As this creek is formed entirely of spring-water -- the spring at Spring Mill contributing largely- it was thought sufficient for all purposes of the water-works. The first issue of bonds ($100,- 000) was dated October 1, 1871, and the con- tract for the building, October 6 ; the contract for laying the pipes to the works having been made the previous August. Six acres of ground were purchased, where the works were erected, at a cost of $3,000, and an engine purchased of the Holly Manufacturing Company, of Lock- port, N. Y., at a cost of $32,000. The entire cost of construction and material amounted to $154,420.70.

The work was pushed with such energy that, on the 20th of August, 1872, they were ready for operation, the machinery put in motion, and since that time have been working with entire satisfaction. After a few years' experi- ence, much complaint being made regarding the quality of the water, which, although answering every requisite of the Fire Depart- ment, was not good enough for domestic pur- poses, it was determined, in 1879, to take the water from two very fine springs, within easy reach of the works. Accordingly, the Johns' Spring, half a mile up the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad track, and the Laird Spring, a half-mile beyond, were pur- chased at a cost of $5,250. The right of way having been secured, pipes were laid from these springs directly to the works. A reservoir was formed around the Johns Spring, with a capaci- ty of about 1,000,000 gallons, the Laird Spring emptying its waters into this reservoir, and the Johns Spring welling up at its bottom. The pump draws the water directly from the reser- voir, and, on the 1st of November, 1879, the city was supplied with pure spring water. The additional cost to the city, including the pur- chase of the springs, the right of way, laying of pipes, etc., was about $17,000. More than fifteen miles of pipe have been laid through the

city. All the material used in construction was thoroughly tested before being placed in position, all the pipes being required to with- stand a pressure of 300 pounds to the square inch, a pressure about three times more than they will ordinarily be called upon to bear in actual service. It is thought these springs will furnish water for a city of 20,000 people. The engine is of sufficient power to furnish 2,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and to throw water over the highest building in the most elevated and distant part of the city. The construction of these works was commenced when times were good and money plenty ; since that, the city has passed through a panic, and the debt has been felt to -be somewhat burden- some. The yearly cost to the city, including interest on the bonds and running expenses, is about $13,000, but this will continually de- crease as the bonds are paid off and the sale of water increases, and it is felt that, even with this expense, a large saving is yearly made in the decreased rates of insurance and the secu- rity of property from the ravages of fire. Since the construction of the works, no fire of conse- quence has occurred.

Mansfield toiled along through the woods, the war of 1812, the mud and slush, the stumps and logs of a backwoods hamlet, the ups and downs incident to every new settlement, for twenty years before any notice was taken of it by the outside world, and then the Legislature came to the rescue and made it a town. It was made an incorporated village, by an act of the General Assembly, in February, 1828. It had passed through a long period of incuba- tion, but was finally " borned," and started on its career of future usefulness, greatness and glory under the guidance of its first Mayor, a Mr. Jacob Lindley. Unfortunately, the early town records have become misplaced or lost,

520

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

and a complete list of the Mayors who followed Lindley, with their terms of service, cannot be found ; such as can be found are given below. The list commences with 1846; from 1828 up to that time the records are lost, but some of the distinguished gentlemen who were called to the helm during those years were, besides Lindley, Joseph Hildreth, Henry Huffman and Simeon Bowman.

Joseph Lindley. 1846

T. H. Ford 1846

Frederick Cook 1847

S. J. Kirkwood 1848

P. P. Hull. 1849

Hubbard Colby 1850

N. D. McMillen 1851

Perkins Bigelow 1852

Perkins Bigelow 1853

Andrew Poe. 1854

Isaac Gass 1855

George F. Carpenter 1856 Stephen B. Sturges 1857

Wilson M. Pattersou 1857

Isaac W. Littler 1858

William A. Moore 1860

B. S. Runyon. 1861

James Cobean. 1862 Darius Dirlam 1864 Abner Slutz* 1866

A. C. Cummings. 1870 John B. Netscher* 1872

Isaac Gass+.

1875

J. R. Richardson* 1875

James G. Craighead. 1879

Dr. Bushnell and Charles T. Sherman were members of the first Council, and almost the first act of that body was the passing of a resolution, introduced by Dr. Bushnell, that the members of the Council should accept no pay for their services. Mansfield did not exhibit any marked signs of future greatness until the Mansfield & Sandusky Railroad came, in 1846. This gave a start to the development of its al- most limitless resources. It began to be a grain market, a wood market and a market for

everything that the soil could produce. Stur- ges & Tracy built the warehouse at the foot of Walnut street, about this time.

The Mansfield Herald says, of the city ten years later (1857): "The population is nearly 6,000 ; the annual exports exceed $1,000,000. There are twenty merchants in the city ; three hardware establishment selling an aggregate of $80,000 per annum ; six manufactories ; three fire companies ; twenty-seven lawyers ; ten doctors ; two banks ; seven hotels ; eleven churches, and gas works about completed." The Herald is mistaken about the 6,000, but there was something over 5,000, for this year an enumeration was taken, and Mansfield made a city of the second class.

At a called meeting of the Council, June, 1855, H. P. Platt, of Cleveland, asked, for himself and associates, the right of way, for twenty years, to lay gas pipes. The Coun- cil granted the right, upon certain speci- fied terms ; this was the first positive action regarding gas. Two years were given the con- tractors in which to finish the work, but the company was slow, and finally failed to com- plete their work within the specified time. Mr. James Purdy says that he, with others, "ad- vanced the money to establish gas works, and when the contractors failed, he, with seven oth- ers, paid the debts due, organized a gas-light company, laid main pipes, put up lamp posts, aud lighted the streets." This was in 1857, and the price of gas was $3 per thousand feet. About 1849, the town received another "boost" toward her present greatness, by the arrival of cars on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway. These railways receive full attention in another chapter. In 1856, ground was bro- ken for the Atlantic & Great Western Railway. Mansfield subscribed $100,000. Ground was first broken by John Wiler, followed by Jabez Cook and Robert Carter. Judge Bartley de- livered the address. This road was fianlly declared finished, at 3:15 P. M., December 27,

*Two terms. +Died while in office.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

1863-the finishing point being eight miles east of Ashland.

In 1853, the town had attained to the dignity of a street commissioner, and Alexander Me- Ilvain was the first to hold that office, and was appointed by the Council.

In 1855, the Council began talking about a public hall and market-house, and a committee was appointed to select a site. This committee was finally ordered to purchase part of the Bowland Block, that part on the corner of West Market and Walnut streets, at a price not to exceed $1,500. They borrowed $1,000 of Hugh McFall to make the first payment. Jacob Brinkerhoff was a member of the Council at that time, and resigned his position, alleging as a reason that the duties of councilmen were in- compatible with those of Supreme Judge of Ohio, which office he then held. He was paid $33.33 for the good he had done, and let off. Roeliff Brinkerhoff was appointed in his place. The corner-stone of the market-house was laid with much ceremony June 24, 1858. In the stone were deposited a gold keystone (a Masonic emblem), a programme of the proceedings, a copy of each of the city papers of latest date, containing a brief history of the city, together with several other articles, such as current coins, etc. All were put in a glass jar, which was placed in a cavity made for the purpose in a solid stone, in the northeast corner of the build- ing, immediately beneath the corner-stone. This building went rapidly forward to completion. October 3, 1856, Alexander McIlvain was directed by the Council to take an enumeration of the inhabitants of the village, and, January 5, 1857, Mr. Mellvain stated, over his signa- ture, that the number was 5,121; thereupon a resolution was passed asking the Governor of the State to declare Mansfield a city. Accord- ingly, February 4, 1857, Gov. Salmon P. Chase issued a proclamation to that effect, and the city of Mansfield sprang into existence. The city was immediately divided by the Council

into four wards, the line east and west follow- ing the center of Third street, and the line north and south following the center of Main street. The first election in the new city was held April 6, 1857, and resulted in the choice of Stephen B. Sturges for Mayor ; Hubbard Colby and R. C. Smith, Councilmen from First Ward ; J. L. Simmons and J. H. Cook from the Second Ward ; William McIlvain and B. Burns from the Fourth Ward, and F. H. Wise and W. L. Higgins from the Third Ward. Hubbard Colby was elected President of the Council, and Henry P. Davis, Clerk. The office of City Solicitor came into existence with the city, and L. B. Matson (deceased) was the first to hold that office.

The three railroads centering in Mansfield from different points of the compass, stimulated business and building, and caused the city to take a long step forward. Miller's Hall was erected in 1858 ; the brick block on the corner of West Market and the square, where Black's store is, in 1863, and the same year, H. H. Stur- ges erected the brick building on the corner where the first cabin was located. Opera House Block was erected by H. R. Smith in 1869. Many other buildings of more or less importance were erected during these years of prosperity. The war came in '61 with its all absorbing issues, which, however, only checked for a year or two the growth and development of the city ; and with the flush times immediately succeeding the war, Mansfield sprang forward with renewed energy and life. No period in her history can compare in interest (and the same may, perhaps, be said of almost every other city in the coun- try), to that embraced between the years 1865 and 1873. Mansfield went wild with success, and ran up that ladder, so to speak, to such a height that she, in common with the rest of the coun- try. grew dizzy and fell. The history of the " flush times " immediately preceding the panic of '73 need not be written here; it is written on the memory of most people; everybody

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

understands it, and its causes and effects ; and, if they do not forgetit, will profit by it. It affected Mansfield in common with the rest of the world; in common with the rest of the world, she has passed that period, experienced her "ups and downs," and remembers that the "nps " were very high, and the "downs " very low. Busi- ness was wonderfully stimulated ; wholesale houses, factories and machine-shops sprang into existence ; more retail houses started than could live; many of her citizens waded into the stream of debt over their heads ; built fine houses ; found the current of that stream too rapid for them ; were swept into the whirlpool, and-have generally repented in "sack- cloth and ashes." There may be consolation, how- ever, in knowing that they had plenty of company. Mansfield went on a " bum," to use an expressive word, over the good things the great victory brought ; she has since "sobered off;" seen the folly of so doing, and is now walking care- fully and cautiously on solid ground, after the manner of a man who has been in a scrape and learned by experi- ence.

OPERA HOUSE, MANSFIELD.

The wholesale grocers were the pioneers of the wholesale trade of Mansfield. Fortunately for the city, three great trunk lines of railroad, connecting the largest cities in the country East and West, converge and diverge at this point. Men were not slow to perceive the excellent shipping facilities thus presented ; the advan- tage of competition in freights from the East, and the opportunity for easy distribution of goods. Until 1865, no exclusively wholesale house existed in Mansfield. Several houses

were doing a wholesale and retail business to- gether, but none had the nerve to branch out into wholesaling exclusively. A Mr. Davis had for some years been wholesaling groceries in a small way, and Mr. E. Clapp (now living on Fourth street, having retired from active busi- ness) kept quite a large retail grocery and candy manufacturing establishment on the cor- ner of Fourth and Main, and did some whole- saling. No effort, however, was made to whole- sale ; if purchasers came from the country and wanted to buy in quantities, they were waited upon, but no traveling men were out drumming up the trade as in later times. Col. Hiram Miller was among the first who attempted to sell goods on the road from Mansfield. He traveled a short time for Mr. Davis, before he engaged with GASS & HOTT. Booksr's Tracy & Avery, with whom he remained many years. When he first went on the road, he would take orders from the country merchants, carry them about in his pocket until his return, be- fore filling them. He only traveled a day or two out of a week, or a week or two out of a month. In 1864, he was employed by Tracy & Avery, who kept a wholesale and re- tail establishment on the northwest corner of the public square (where it still remains), and who were probably the first to keep a traveling man continually on the road. About the 1st of December, 1865, Messrs. Peter Remy, James A. Hedges and A. C. Cummins formed a part- nership, purchased the establishment of E. Clapp and began an exclusive wholesale busi- ness. The next year, 1866, Tracy & Avery closed up their retail business, and began wholesaling exclusively, and have continued

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

in that business to the present time. Stur- ges, Wood & Witter began jobbing dry goods in this year (1866) in connection with their retail business. In a year, their wholesale business had increased to such an extent that they also closed up their retail business. The stock and business of this firm continually in- creased until the latter reached about $800,000 per annum. They were then occupying the block on the Sturges corner, but upon the com- pletion of the Hedges Block, corner of East Diamond and the Public Square, in 1873, they transferred their stock to that block. This firm was also engaged in the wholesale crockery and queensware business until 1870, when they sold out to Markward & Harroun. In 1869, the wholesale grocery firm of E. P. Sturges & Co. came into existence, and soon established a large business. Reed, Jones & Co. (now H. M. Weaver & Co.) also came in 1869, and started a wholesale boot and shoe store in the Opera Building. This firm also moved into Hedges' Block in 1873. This was the second establisli- ment of this kind then in the city, John G. Spencer having been engaged in wholesaling boot. shoes, hats and caps for several years. In addition to these were J. H. Reed & Brother, doing a large wholesale book, paper and notion business ; F. S. Lahm & Co., wholesale hats, caps, trunks, etc .; Custer & Brother, wholesale hardware, and various other establishments were wholesaling and retailing.

The amount of sales by wholesale houses in Mansfield for the year ending April 30, 1869, is thus stated by the Herald. The list com- prises only those whose sales are over $50,000 per annum :

Sturgis, Wood & Witter, $582,523 ; Tracy, Avery & Sturges, $440,370 ; Remy, Hedges & Walter, $195,921 ; Strong, Son & Co. (produce), $120,559 ; J. H. Recd & Bro., $92,724.64; John G. Spencer, $90,441 ; Sturges, McVay & Allison (lumber), $89,234; M. & J. H. Black (dry goods), $79,761; L. J. Tracy & Co. (pro-

duce), 79,390 ; T. B. Orr (hardware), $71,817 ; Blymyer & Bro. (stoves and tinware), $59,383; Reed, Jones & Co. (three months' sales), $24, 735.40. The writer adds : " Five years ago, we could boast of no wholesale trade of conse- quence ; there was no exclusively wholesale house in . Mansfield. Now we have twelve houses whose sales are above $50,000 per annum."

In the height of its prosperity, the wholesale trade of Mansfield must have exceeded $2,500,- 000 per annum, exclusive of The Aultman and Taylor Manufacturing Company, and other machine works and factories. To give a fair idea of the business of the factories, the Mans- field Herald of February 22, 1872, is responsi- ble for the following statement :

NAMES.

Capital Employed. $353,000

Men Employed.

The Aultman & Taylor Co.

125

Mansfield Machine Works

750,000

200

Crackers and Bread.

43,000

Lumber

234,000

Furniture.

46,000

Flour and Feed.

60,000

Paper Mill.

74,000

Tin and Sheet Iron

49,000

Carriages and Wagons.

17,000

Breweries

60,000

Millinery Goods.

45,000

Boiler Works

18,000

Foundry and Machinery.

38,000

Tanning.

20,000

Boots and Shoes.

65,000

Flax Mill

45,000

Soaps.

32,000

Clothing

133,000

100

Brick

40,000

Woolen Mill.

150,000

Sundries

40,000

Total

$2,312,000

899

As another indication of the immensity of the tidal wave of prosperity in those days, it is found that the total amount of incomes re- turned for taxation in 1868 was over $300,000. A few of the largest were : C. Aultman, $102,- 230; H. H. Sturges, $10,969 ; H. Colby, $9.379;

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

S. B. Sturges, $8,504 ; S. B. Witter, $7,921 ;. Dr. J. A. Jones, $7,350 ; John Wood, $7,343; A. L. Grimes, $6,427 ; E. Sturges, Sr., $6.126 ; E. H. Reese, $5,469 ; John S. Blymyer, $4,908 ; D. Sturges, $4,555, and many others from $1,000 to $4,000.

The following summary is taken from the Mansfield Business Directory for 1869, and gives a correct idea of the business of the city at that date : There were fourteen churches ; three banks ; four Masonic and three Odd Fel- lows' lodges ; a Young Men's Christian Associ- ation ; a Philharmonie Society ; a gas com- pany ; a cemetery association ; six public buildings and halls ; three manufacturers of agricultural implements ; twenty attorneys at law ; five bakers ; five barbers ; three billiard saloons ; six blacksmiths ; nineteen boarding- houses ; three dealers in books and stationery, one wholesale ; one book-bindery ; two whole- sale boot and shoe houses ; twelve boot and shoe manufacturers and dealers ; three brew- eries ; eight brickmakers ; one candy manu- facturer ; twelve carpenters and builders ; one carpet store ; four carriage manufacturers ; one importer of china, glass and queensware ; two cigar-makers ; four dealers in clothing ; three dealers in coal and wood ; four confectioneries ; five coopers ; five dentists ; five dressmakers ; five druggists ; one wholesale dry goods and notions ; eight dry goods, wholesale and retail ; two dry goods, groceries and general merchan- dise ; one dyer and renovator ; one eating sa- loon ; one egg-packer ; one manufacturer of en- gines and boilers ; two dealers in fancy goods ; one flouring-mill ; one dealer in flour and feed ; one dealer in furnishing goods ; two foundries ; four furniture dealers ; one furrier ; three whole- sale groceries ; twenty-five retail groceries ; one gunmaker ; two hardware stores, wholesale and retail ; two wholesale hats, caps and furs. four retail ; eight hotels ; one hoop-skirt fac- tory ; four insurance agents ; one dealer in leather and findings; six livery-stables ; two

dealers in lumber ; one machine-shop; two marble-works ; seven butchers ; five merchant tailors ; three dealers in millinery goods, two wholesale ; five milliners ; two dealers in musi- cal instruments ; two news-depots ; two news- papers and printing offices ; thirteen notaries public ; one wholesale notion house ; two nurse- ries ; one manufacturer of blacking ; four paint- ers ; one wholesale paper house ; one paper- mill ; three photographers : twenty-one physi- cians ; two planing-mills ; two plow manufact- urers ; two produce and commission dealers ; five restaurants ; three dealers in saddles and harness ; one dealer in saddlery and coach- trimmings ; twenty-two saloons ; two saw-mills ; one sash, blind and door manufacturer ; five dealers in sewing machines ; one silver-plater ; one spring-bed maker ; one stencil-cutter ; four dealers in stoves and tinware; three tanners and curriers ; one dealer in tobacco and cigars ; one trunk-maker; one umbrella-maker; four wagon-makers ; four dealers in watches and jewelry ; two dealers in wall-paper ; one dealer in wines, liquors and cigars ; one wood-turner ; three dealers in wool ; one dealer in worsted goods.

The directory also names fifty streets.

Among other public enterprises during these prosperous years, was the organization of a library association, which occurred November 3, 1865. Hon. John Sherman forwarded a large collection of books and public documents for that purpose. The first meeting was held in Vance & Daily's office, and the temporary officers were Rev. J. W. Osborn, Chairman, and L. D. Myers, Secretary. The committee to obtain lecturers were L. B. Matson, M. Wordon and O. H. Booth. The Committee on Perma- nent Organization were L. B. Matson, J. H. Reed, W. S. Hickox, J. P. Vance and J. M. Jolly. The permanent officers elected were : H. Colby, President ; Rev. T. K. Davis, Vice President ; L. D. Myers, Recording Secretary, O. H. Booth, Corresponding Secretary ; J. H.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Reed, Treasurer ; W. S. Hickox, L. B. Matson and J. M. Jolly, Executive Committee. The powers of the association are vested in its offi- cers, acting as a Board of Directors, who are elected annually. For a few years, while the library was under the care and management of Mr. J. E. Wharton, it grew and prospered ; a room was procured in the court house, which was soon filled with books, relies, etc. After Mr. Wharton left the city, it was neglected, and and is still neglected. There is in it, at present, about one thousand eight hundred volumes, besides magazines and other matter, a nu- cleus around which Mansfield people may, in the future, build up a much-needed library. A lyceum has been connected with it since August 15, 1871. It still exists, but is not well sustained at present.

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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