History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 66

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The building was a substantial, unpainted frame one, of two stories in height. It was close to the foot of the hill, and afforded a fine basement in which the high-wines and whiskey were stored. The furnace and steam tubs were also below, On the main floor was

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located the mash tubs and worm, and the second story was used as a grain floor. This structure was afterwards torn down in 1839. Ezra Williams was a very conscientious man. The whiskey he manufactured was absolutely pure, and although even preachers drank in those days, no cases of delirium tremens were ever known to result from even an over-load of this early-day liquor. The whiskey jug had its place with more necessary articles of consumption in the cabin of the settler, and at meal time helped set off the table. The Indians were great imbibers of "fire-water," and bought it at the distillery by the pint, quart or gallon. They were generally very much excited under its influence, and Williams avoided selling to them as much as possible, this course being agreeable to the old chief, Hard Hickory, who was desirous to altogether prevent the sale to them.

The article manufactured was distilled from corn and rye-two-thirds of the former to one-third of the latter. Copper boilers were not used, but to render it better it was distilled by steam in air-tight wooden tubs or casks. Joseph Edwards was the head distiller, and under his experienced management one bushel of grain produced from eleven to thirteen and one-half quarts of whiskey. From twelve to thirty-three bushels of grain was distilled per day, the distillery running generally all the year round, with from two to three men in attendance. In those days corn was worth from twenty-five to fifty cents per bushel, and rye from sixty to ninety cents. The whiskey retailed at from thirty-five to fifty cents per gallon, and from twenty-eight to forty cents per gallon by wholesale. It was of the color of purest spring water, and held a good bead for the length of a minute. Burnt sugar was the only foreign material used in its composi-

tion, and this was introduced to give it the rich, yellow color, indicative of mellow old age.

A treadmill, to do the grinding, was connected with the establishment. Williams also occupied himself with farming, and was necessarily a butcher, as he raised large numbers of hogs and kine on the refuse matter of the still.

It seems that the subject of temperance was little discussed, at least not openly, in those days, and no demonstrations of a crusade nature ever disturbed the serenity of these primitive distillers; but about 1830 a temperance society, known under the name of the Washingtonians, began to exert some influence in the county. Religious revivals were held here in ensuing years, and with this movement the temperance organization grew stronger. In 1837 Ezra Williams joined the church, and the same year, deeming that spiritual and spirituous matters (in spite of the seeming paradox), could not consistently blend together, he, in keeping with his recent profession of faith, abandoned a pursuit which was opening to him a sure road to wealth.

The manufacture of whiskey was of con- siderable benefit, in a commercial light, to the county. It was the chief source of revenue to the farmers. Corn was then the principal production, and the rates of transportation were so high that any under- taking to convey it to the markets of the East assured financial failure on the part of the operator. The distillery acted as a medium. The corn was sold to the distillers; the whiskey was exchanged for goods with the traders and merchants, and then easily shipped to the metropolis.

BREWING INTERESTS.

The first Fremont brewer was Sarius Young, who, in 1851, built a frame brewery on the east side of Ohio avenue, below the brow of the hill. In the fall of

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1853 Anthony Young went into partnership with him. One year later the original proprietor sold out his interest in the business to Lawrence Romer, who continued with A. Young until the spring of 1855, when the latter sold out. During 1856 and a portion of 1857, the Youngs, who still owned the building and property, rented it to Charles F. Giesin and C. Doncyson. After the withdrawal of the latter firm, Fred Iler purchased the property,

who, after continuing brewing for a few years, sold it to John Paulus, who built the present brick building. For several years it has not been in operation, and at a sheriff's sale some time since, It was purchased by the Fremont Brewing Company.

In 1857, Charles Giesin purchased the old packing house below the gas works, and fitted it into a brewery. A few years after he sold the building to the Gusdorf Brothers, and in 1862 he built the brick brewery now occupied by the Fremont Brewing Company. In 1876 he sold out to Felix Stienley, William Mefort, Frank Hiem, Joseph Stuber, and Barney Casper. Mr. Casper has since died. The company is known under the style of the Fremont Brewing Company. They are making many improvements, and doing a considerable business.

THE LIVERY BUSINESS.

The first livery stable in the village was opened by David W. Gould in 1842. The primitive stables of this first proprietor were located on Water street close to the bank of the river, and at the foot of the alley between Croghan and Garrison streets. In 1847 Mr. Gould removed his horses, carriages, and provender to a frame building on the site of the brick building now occupied by Charles Close. Three years after he commenced carrying the mail between Toledo and Cleveland, and, using his stock for that purpose, he

was obliged to discontinue the livery busi- ness. In the old stables vacated in 1847 by William Gould, Ira Smith and Henry Sweet carried on the livery and horse-trading business for a number of years. About this time Reuben Wood kept a

rival establishment on Arch street, below the old Dickinson property that faces on the pike.

The most prominent livery proprietor of Fremont is Timothy H. Bush, who came to this city in 1840. In 1855 he purchased John Pitman's entire interest in the business, at that time located on the river bank and facing on Front street, below the former Kessler House. William Bush became a partner in 1862. The death of the latter occurred six or seven years later, and Daniel Bunnell was taken in as an equal partner,. under the firm name of Bush & Bunnell. Their business was carried on in the original stables until in 1875, when they removed to the brick building in the rear of the former Cooper House. These stables were built for the livery business in 1855, by Charles W. Moore, and run by him until his death, when Frank Gurney carried on the business In connection with his hotel. Charles Close purchased Bush & Bunnell's interest in 1879 and has continued there since. Mr. Bush is the only extensive horse dealer in the county, and also the only one who has made a comfortable fortune in that line.

Besides Close's the present stables are: Doncyson's, located on State street, near the bridge, and Bunnell's; in the rear of the Ball House. Dr. G. O'Harlan is the proprietor of the Fremont hack line.

MANUFACTURING.

The manufacturing interests of this city, as well as that of the county, like those of all other communities in a new and unsettled country, commenced with the erection of grist-mills and saw-mills

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on the banks of the streams. These mills, necessary to supply food first, and then convenient shelter, were, very naturally, succeeded by the factories for the making of cloths, then by the foundries for manufacturing articles needed in

an agricultural section of country, and so on, as the increase of population and variety of pursuits gave rise to different and more varied wants, or the peculiar situation and facilities for a certain branch of man- ufacturing induced enterprising men to engage to it.

In 1818; the same year that the Olmsteds brought on their large stock of merchandise and erected their frame store-house, Thomas L. Hawkins and Thomas E. Boswell, full of the spirit of the early pioneers, and with an eye to business, dug the race that at. the present day runs the water flouring mill, built the dam, and erected, where the mill now stands, a diminutive, well ventilated grist-mill, which in every way merited the appellation of a primitive "corn-cracker." Here came the settlers for miles around, and patiently waited from sunrise till evening twilight for the slow-running mill-stones to empty the hopper and grind out their bushel of meal. In the course of time Boswell sold out to Elisha W. Howland. Here, as it is told in a happy manner by the oldest inhabitants, Howland, who was a cabinet-maker and joiner, a man of good humor and made the best of all things, manufactured coffins, and often of evenings, with boon companions, played cards on these last receptacles for the dead. Some ghastly pictures might well be .drawn with graphic pencil, either of artist or writer, of the rude interior of a primitive mill. A work-bench in one corner, the rafters overhead, the rough, white-coated mill- stones, all lighted up by a flickering, unsnuffed candle, and the light of this candle flaming in the faces of a group of good- natured

looking men gathered around the bench, and dealing cards in an exciting game of "old sledge" on the white top of a pine board coffin. One could hear the roar of the mill race below-a dead, ceaseless voice, and well imagined the spiritual form of the destined inmate of the coffin, standing in silence and grave clothes in one of the cobwebbed corners of the room. Whiskey was cheap in those days, and it required but little money to brace the nerves.

Some time in 1830 Revirius Bidwell purchased the mill property, and tearing down the primitive structure, he erected a substantial frame building in its place. The property has since that date gone through various hands, and been greatly enlarged in room, and its facilities increased. Morgan & Downs succeeded Bidwell at an early date, and in 1857 or 1858, the business was carried on by J. B. G. Downs, F. S. White, and George Canfield. Depp & Ensminger were afterwards sole proprietors, and Koons Brothers, who afterwards succeeded them, are now conducting the business. A saw-mill was, during the first years of its existence, connected with the mill.

About the same year that Hawkins and Boswell commenced grinding corn in the valley by water-power, Ruel Loomis built a horse and ox grist-mill on Ohio avenue, upon the brow of the hill, on the east side of the river. This was not the nucleus of any lasting or extensive business enterprise, and but few of the citizens of Fremont will remember the fact of a mill being in operation there, and still less recall the tread of the yoked oxen as they prepared the grain for backwoods consumption.

The first saw-mill in Ballville was built in 1822, by David Moore, a wealthy land owner, who came there in 1821, and im- mediately made his preparations and commenced

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building, at the head of the race that now runs Dean's Woolen Mills, and on the space of ground now occupied by the old red tannery. While he actively employed his laborers in the mill, his wife, who came soon after his arrival, boarded them in a rough slab shanty near by.

In 1827 John Bell commenced the carding of wool, giving an opportunity for woodsmen to purchase, at a reduced price, the goods for their clothes, and enabling them to discard the skin-tight breeches and coats made of hides. He run his carding machine in a part of the water-power flouring-mill in this city. His machinery was carried away by a disastrous spring flood a few years after.

In 1831 Charles Choate, a practical carder, came to this county from Milan, Ohio, where he had learned his trade in his brother's mill. He brought with him a double carding- machine and picker, and located it in a portion of the frame grist-mill belonging to David Chambers, which stood on the river's west bank, about one-half mile above where Moore's stone mill, in Ballville, now stands. During the first year he carded a little over eight thou-sand pounds of wool. Business kept increasing, and in eight years he was running four double carding-machines, and carded that year forty thousand pounds of wool. At that date (1839) he closed out to a Mr. Otis. The first two years George Moore was a partner on shares with him. In the summer of 1834 Mr. Choate erected a large frame building close by the old yellow mill owned by James Moore, and occupied it for carding for one summer. About 1845 he sold out his interest in the business to P. C. Dean. In the early days Mr. Choate commanded for his business an extent of country from Bellevue to the head of the rapids on the Maumee River, and from the Peninsula to Upper Sandusky. P. C. Dean con-

tinned in the woolen-mill business until his death some few years since, when his two sons succeeded under the firm name of Dean Brothers. A year ago they dissolved partnership, Philip Dean closing out his interest to W. Dean. The mill on the present site of the one erected by Mr. Choate, was built only a few years since upon the destruction by fire of the first one.

The manufacture of pottery was com- menced in 1822 by Elijah Drury, in a rude log house that reared its unpretentious front on the corner of Front and Garrison streets, on the ground now occupied by Tchumy's block. Here Drury moulded his clay and baked his crocks and jugs for ten or more years, until succeeded in due course by Robert S. Rice. Rice continued in the business until he was elected justice of the peace.

The earliest tanner was Moses Nichols, whose tannery was located by the lower road to Ballville, on the little stream that courses through the low lands adjacent to the property owned by the heirs of Jacob H. Hultz.

George S. Brainard was probably the first tinner in Fremont. He started in business here about 1837. John R. Pease bought him out in 1840. The shop in which they did business was on the site where Pease, Perrine & Co. now carry on the manufacture of carriages. After continuing here a few years Mr. Pease removed to the east side of the river, and erecting a brick block on Front street, moved in his stock. In 1848 O. A. Roberts went into partnership with Mr. Pease. In 1853 Mr. Pease sold out to Roberts & Sheldon, who continued in business to- gether until 1869, when they sold out their Interest to Charles Dillon. The brick block, on the site of the old Pease building, and now owned by Roberts & Sheldon, was built in 1863.

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In 1840 F. I. Norton and Cornelius Letcher, recognizing the fact that they were in the centre of a rich farming country, that the inhabitants depended mainly for their existence upon the product of the soil, and that agricultural implements were the chief want of the community, decided to engage in the manufacture of plows, and with this end in view, entered into a co-partnership under the firm name of Norton & Letcher. Their first foundry, a small frame structure, was erected in the rear of the brick block now occupied by William A. and C. F. Rice, on Front street. Here they remained for two years, increasing their business until it was found necessary to secure more space and enlarge their buildings. To meet these requirements they purchased the property close to the river's bank and cornering on River and Garrison streets, where stands the present foundry of D. June & Co. A brick foundry and frame shop was built on this land by them in 1842, and a four-horse power engine purchased and put in place for blowing the blast. On the death of Mr. Letcher Mr. Norton became sole owner and proprietor, and continued running the business until in 1853, when he sold out to David June and Mr. Curtis. Curtis remained a member of the firm only six months, closing out his interest to D. L. June, a brother of his partner, the firm name being changed to June & June, continuing until 1856, when Lyman Gilpin bought out D. L. June. June and Gilpin remained together as partners until November 1, 1859. At that time the firm consolidated in D. June, the present proprietor, who, .immediately after the dissolution, took again into partnership, with him Curtis. Seven years elapsed, when Curtis retired, and three years after the present firm, composed of David June, Robert Brayton, and O. S. French, formed a partnership under the

style of D. June & Co. The changes in buildings and great increase in business speak well for the energy and business and financial qualifications of David June and his partners. In 1861 the old brick and frame structures of the original firm of Norton & Letcher were razed and a permanent block erected on the former's site. An addition of seventy-six feet front has since been added, and in 1877 a boiler shop proper and erecting shop were built on the opposite side of Garrison street. When D. June and partner purchased the concern from Norton & Letcher the business yearly amounted to five thousand dollars. At the present time it amounts to one hundred thousand dollars, and from sixty to seventy-five men are constantly employed. Their work consists in the building of portable, stationary, and mill engines, the Champion engine being their principal manufacture. This latter engine was patented in 1875, 1876, and 1899. At the time of the Centennial Exposition the attention of Russian manufacturers was called to the Champion, and shortly after they visited the works in this city and examined models for the purpose of introducing it in Russia.

Francis Lake, of Milan, Ohio, came here in 1852 and commenced the manufacture of sash and blinds on the east side of the river, in a large frame building where the carriage shop of Pease, Perrine & Co. now stands. The manufacture was steadily continued for a number of years, McClellan, McGee, Nat. Haynes, N. C. West, George T. Dana, and William Haynes forming the successive firms until the business was discontinued. In 1859 J. H. McArdle and Chester E. Ed- gerton, under the firm name of J. H. Mc- Ardle & Co. built the brick sash factory next to the Fremont gas company's works on Front street. In 1864 Chester E. Edgerton bought out McArdle's interest and

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the same year G. G. Edgerton became a partner.

Ambrose Ochs is the oldest wagon and carriage manufacturer in Fremont. In 1847, four years after his arrival here from Germany, Mr. Ochs and B. Keefe started a wagon shop in a two-story frame building on the present site of the brick block now occupied by the former. For five years this partnership continued under the firm name of Keefe & Ochs: then Ochs bought out the business, and in 1863 started a blacksmith shop in connection with the factory. The brick building was erected in 1872.

J. P. Moore is one of the most successful carriage and wagon manufacturers in the county. From where he first started into blacksmithing, on the pike west of Fremont, he removed to the site of his present extensive works in 1851, where. a small frame shop was erected and business done under the firm name of Samuel & John P. Moore. In 1854 Samuel sold out to John P. who soon after formed a partnership with his brother William. This latter firm was dissolved in 1854, the present owner remaining in charge. The brick block now used as blacksmith shop, paint shop, and salesroom, was built in 1863. The addition occupied by the wagon and carriage manufacturing departments was erected in 1869.

In 1873 the old, dilapidated frame building on the east side of the river that had been used as a sash factory, was razed and a frame structure erected in its place. In this building Ed. Pease, John Pease and Frank H. Rummell, under the firm name of Pease, Rummell & Co., commenced the manufacture of carriages and wagons and blacksmithing, The partner-ship dissolved in 1876, and Ed. Pease became the sole owner and proprietor, running the business till 1879, when G. A. Perrine and Jacob Harbrond were taken

in as partners and business resumed under the title of Pease, Perrine & Co.

The Star City flouring mill was built by David June for D. L. June in 1858. Curtis & Camfield succeeded and remained partners till 1861, when Curtis sold out his interest to John Geeseman. Koons Brothers were the next partners, Bowlus & Beery succeeding, the former selling to Quale. The present firm is VanEpps & Cox.

The elevator destroyed by fire in the summer of 1881, standing one mile south of the city, at the head of navigation on the Sandusky River, was built by I. E. Amsden in 1859. A half interest in it was owned by Dr. L. Q. Rawson and James Moore. The grain business trans-acted by means of the elevator was one of great profit until the years of the great Rebellion. when the production of grain be-came less with the years of the struggle, and dwindled down to an inconsiderable amount, in comparison to what it had formerly been. The elevator went through successive hands, and when burned be-longed to the Lake Erie & Western Rail- road company.

Immediately after the sale of his interest in the elevator Mr. I. E. Amsden, in 1857, went into the lumber business. His first saw-mill was built near where the elevator stood, but about two years after he re-moved to the north end of Front street, where he is now engaged in an extensive trade. The amount of lumber produced yearly at his mill averages one million five hundred thousand feet, and besides this he purchases largely to meet the demand.

N. C. West is the other large lumber dealer in this city. He commenced business here in 1863 with George T. Dana as his partner, and doing business under the title of West & Dana. Their saw-mill was located three or four miles from town; at the present, and for many years past, it

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has been located a short distance west of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot. Mr. West purchased Mr. Dana's interest in 1876.

In 1861 F. I. Norton began the manu- facture of spokes in the sash factory built by Francis Lake on the east side of the river. In 1863 he built the brick building on Arch street, between Croghan and Garrison streets (which has since been enlarged by the Trommer Extract of Malt Co.), and continued the manufacture of spokes until 1874, when he sold the building to Edward Underhill. Williard Norton, his son, was his only partner.

The first gas company formed for the manufacture of that article for this city, was organized in 1860, by a Mr. Stephenson, who remained here but two years after securing stockholders and erecting works. At the end of that time a sheriff's sale became necessary to settle up the claims of creditors, and the business and works were purchased by Morris Gusdorf; interests taken by C. Doncyson, C. O. Tillotson, Fred Fabing, and D. June. For five years the company conducted business under the firm name of Gusdorf & Co., when it was changed to the Fremont Gas Co. D. June sold out his interest ten years since.

One of the largest branches of industry in the city is the manufacture of Trommer's Extract of Malt. The company occupy for their works the large brick block and its adjoining buildings on Arch street, between Croghan and Garrison streets. The company was originally formed in 1874, between Hon. John B. Rice, Dr. Robert H. Rice, Dr. Gustavus A. Gessner, Stephen Buckland, and Ralph P. Buckland, jr. The two latter gentlemen withdrew from the firm in 1877. The article manufactured by them is an inspissated extract of malt, with a small proportion of hops, and consists of malt sugar, dextrine,

resin and bitter of hops, tanin, diastase, phosphates of lime and alkaline salts. It is considered by eminent practitioners to be a valuable agent in pulmonary consumption, dyspepsia, etc. Experiments were made for some time by Drs. J. B. Rice and Gessner, before they succeeded in making a satisfactory article. They have built up an immense trade, extending through all the United States, and into Mexico, Central America, South America, England, Japan, Sandwich Islands, West India Islands, and Canada. This has been done by extensive advertising in all medical journals, and employing physicians as agents.

The Fremont Cultivator Company was incorporated in September, 1881. The officers and stockholders are H. C. Stahl, president; Samuel Brinkerhoff, secretary; A. E. Rice, treasurer; and Henry Fine-frock and J. S. Bower. Their works are located just south of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, in the valley.

The largest branch of industry in San- dusky county is the manufacture of the Hubbard mowers and self raking reapers, by the Fremont Harvester Company. Their extensive works occupy a large tract of land on State street, in the west out-skirts of the city of Fremont, and on the line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. The buildings are substantial brick structures and fully furnished with machinery and great engine power. One hundred and fifty men are the average number employed in the works. The business is increasing and the stock bids fair to soon being a rich paying investment. Movements were first made early in 1872, by William B. Sheldon, for the organization of an incorporated company for the manufacture and repairing of cars. An interest was soon manifested by the citizens, and on the 15th of February, 1872, articles of incorporation, signed by

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 66

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