History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 67

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

R. P. Buckland, L. Q. Rawson, F. S. White, James W. Wilson, and A. H. Miller, were granted, the company to be known under the title of the Fremont Car Co. The capital stock was placed at two hundred thousand dollars; the shares at one hundred dollars each. William B. Sheldon was elected president of the organization; F. S. White, treasurer; and J. M. Smith, secretary. The board of directors were William B. Sheldon, F. S. White, James W. Wilson, R. P. Buckland, and LaQ. Rawson. No changes have been made in the officers or board, with the exception of the resignation of F. S. ,White from the position of treasurer, and the election of John M. Smith to fill this vacancy. The buildings were erected soon after the incorporation, and fitted up with all necessary machinery for the manufacture of railroad cars, in accordance with the original intention of the organization; but about this time the panic of 1873 began, and with it fell off the demand for cars. The works were never put in operation for their manufacture, but in June, 1875, the name of the company was changed to its present one of the Fremont Harvester Company, and the manufacture commenced of mowers and reapers.

SHIP-BUILDING ON THE SANDUSKY RIVER. While the Sandusky River and the country along its banks bearing forests of grand oak trees were in a state of nature, few places afforded such facilities for ship-building as Lower Sandusky. In fact, ship-building began at an early day and was continued many years. But the timber in time was cleared away from the banks, and each year made ship-building less profitable by reason of the lengthened haul of the timber. Then again, the advent of the iron horse, careering along the lake shore, has seriously dwarfed the commerce on the waters of Lake Erie and

its tributaries. Hence the ship-building at this, as well as all other points, has been of no magnitude for some years past, and ship- building at Fremont may probably be called one of the past industries of the place. Still, as time and change go on, it may he interesting, as in fact it is already, to know that ship-building was once carried on, and to obtain some idea of the extent to which the business was prosecuted. Hence, we place in this history such information on the subject as can now be obtained.

THE NAUTILUS.

In 1816 a small sloop was built on the west bank of the river, nearly opposite the lower end of the island, and launched about where the dock of the elevator lately burned now stands. The Nautilus was of twenty tons burden, and was built by Wilson & Disbrow. Little information can now be gathered about the vessel. No doubt, judging from her size, she was built for the bay and river trade, probably between Venice, now in Erie county, and Lower Sandusky.

We are under obligations to Charles B. Tyler, esq., son of Captain Morris Tyler, deceased, for the following additional facts relative to the building of vessels at Lower Sandusky:

Next after the Nautilus came the Horse Boat, built by Thomas L. Hawkins, which was a platform resting upon two large pi- rogues or canoes, with a shaft across which worked a paddle-wheel on each side. Over the shaft was a circular platform with perpendicular cogs on the rim of the circle, matching into cogs on the shaft on each side. Horses were placed on this circular platform and cog-wheel, hitched to stationary posts, and by pulling moved the circle and turned the main shaft to which the paddle-wheels were attached, thus propelling the boat. This boat could, in good weather, run from

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Lower Sandusky to Venice in one day and return the next. There was no covering over the platform and no hold in the boat. It was merely a floating platform propelled by horse-power. But this simple contrivance was quite useful, and per-formed the carrying trade up and down the river for several years.

The next vessel after the horse boat was the schooner Cincinnati, built by Captain Morris Tyler, in 1825 or 1826, and was a fair-sized vessel for that period. A Mr. Jones was the master-builder, and the vessel was built and launched about where the wagon- shop of Mr. Baltas Keefer now stands, on the bank of the river, perhaps fifty or sixty rods below the bridge on the Maumee and Western Reserve road, over the river. This vessel, under the command of Captain Morris Tyler in person, was a profitable investment, and plied for a number of years between Lower Sandusky and intermediate ports. Her tonnage was equal to about five thousand bushels of wheat.

The steamboat Ohio was the next vessel built on the river. She was built by a joint stock company, and launched near the same place where the schooner Cincinnati was, in the year 1828. Captain Morris Tyler was placed in charge of this steamer, and remained in charge of her until 1833 or 1834, when she was sold to persons interested in the commerce of Toledo. She afterwards became old and unseaworthy, and was laid up as useless, and her remains were covered up when the middle-ground was filled, and are buried under the Island House in Toledo.

The schooner Wyandot was next built, and launched near the mouth of Muskellunge Creek. Captain John L. Cole, now a well-to- do farmer residing about one mile north of Fremont, was master of this vessel.

The schooner Home was the next vessel

built on the river. She was built by Captain Morris Tyler in the year 1843, and placed in charge of Captain Sacket. She was launched a little below where the steamer Ohio was, and near where John Pero's coal office now stands. Our fellow-citizen Charles B. Tyler remembers working on this vessel, in the building of it, at the rate of seventy-five cents per day, when quite young. The master-builder was William Redfield. The Home, after being in the carrying trade from Lower Sandusky to Buffalo and intermediate ports, and sometimes in the upper lake trade, for a period of about six years, was sold to parties residing in Sandusky City, and was chiefly engaged afterwards in trade between that port and Buffalo and Detroit, although she occasionally came back to Lower Sandusky, her native place, with freights, after she was sold. Her carrying capacity was probably about eight or ten thousand bushels of wheat.

The schooner Almina Meeker was the next vessel built on the Sandusky River. The enterprise of building this vessel was undertaken by Benjamin F. Meeker, after whose wife the vessel was named. After commencing the building of this schooner Mr. Meeker became financially embarrassed, and before the vessel was finished she was transferred on the stocks to the Messrs. Moss, of Sandusky City. She was built on the river bank and near the south bank of the mouth of Muskellunge Creek, and launched there in the year 1846 Her carrying capacity was eight thousand bushels of wheat or thereabouts.

The next craft built on the Sandusky River was the Ben Flint, and received her name from her intended captain of that name, who afterwards was her captain in fact for several years. The proprietors were Nims & Tillotson, and Captain Williams was master- builder. She was built and launched near where the bridge of

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the Lake Erie & Western Railway now strikes the west bank of the river. The carrying capacity of this schooner was equal to about sixteen thousand bushels of wheat. Captain Benjamin Flint sailed her for a number of years with great regularity and financial success.

The next vessel built on the river was the schooner Dan Tindall. She was built by Captain William Totten, an experienced ship-carpenter and builder, who came from Staten Island, New York, and settled in Fremont, he choosing the place as an ad- vantageous point for business. She was built and launched at about the same point on the river where the Ben Flint had been previously built. The Tindall was built and launched in the years 1861 and 1862. Her carrying capacity was equal to twenty thousand bushels of wheat. Her first captain was Gordon Wilson, then Captain James Hone commanded. her, and Captain George M. Tyler was her master for several years. The Tindall proved to be a vessel of superior sailing qualities and was very successful while he commanded her, clearing net by her earnings thirty-five thousand dollars in the three years the vessel was under his control

The Cornelia Amsden was modeled built, and owned by Captain William Totten, and was another success of his skill in building and designing water craft. She was launched in 1863, from the west bank of the river, about one-fourth of a mile below the bridge of the Lake Erie & Western Railway. Her carrying capacity was one hundred and eighty-four tons. She was named after the wife of Isaac E. Amsden, then and now one of the esteemed citizens and prominent business men of Fremont. After being in the Fremont trade about two years she was sold to Messrs. Hubbard, of Sandusky City, and, thereafter, visited Fremont occasionally, but not regularly.

The N. C. West was built for the Fremont trade. Having been begun by Messrs. Skinner & Donaldson, who failed financially, she was transferred to Charles Foster, George T. Dana, and Charles O. Tillotson, who finished and launched her about half a mile below the Lake Erie & Western Railroad bridge on the west bank of the river. Her carrying capacity is equal to about nine thousand bushels of wheat. She was launched in 1867, and is still in the Fremont trade. The N. C. West is the last vessel built in Fremont, and should railroad building go on it may be doubted whether there will be any further ship-building at this once admirable point for that industry.

A railway leading to Sandusky City now crosses the river at a point where some of the above-mentioned vessels were built, and gives a cheap and rapid transit for freight and passengers to that city, thus establishing a competing line which has superseded transportation by the waters of the river and Sandusky Bay.

And a fact worthy of note, and which palpably illustrates the changes of time and progress of the day, is that at this very time the Wheeling & Lake Erie Rail-way is engaged in procuring the right of way along the bank of the river, and appropriating for a railroad track the very ground on which most of the vessels above-mentioned were built.

BANKS AND BANKING.

The first banking house in Fremont was a private bank started by Sardis Birchard, esq., and Judge Lucius B. Otis, and was opened for general business on the 1st day of January, 1851. Mr. Birchard, who was at that time about fifty years of age, had for many years been one of the leading merchants of the place. He was one of the early settlers, greatly interested in the town, and always active and earnest in his efforts for its prosperity. Judge Otis,

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his partner, was a lawyer about thirty-three years of age, and was about that time elected judge of the court of common pleas, which position he filled with ability. In 1856 he moved to Chicago, where he still resides, a gentleman of wealth and prominence. Starting with two such men as its founders, the banking house of Birchard & Otis commenced at once doing a prosperous business. Mr. Jacob Lesher, who is still a worthy business man of Fremont, was the first depositor.

The following letter from Judge Otis, in response to one from A. H. Miller, gives an interesting account of the beginning of banking business in Fremont:

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, October 3, 1881.

DEAR SIR :- On the 1st day of January, 1851, Sardis Birchard, in partnership with Lucius B. Otis, established the first banking house in Fremont, under the name of Birchard & Otis. The firm continued without change, doing business in the same bank building (the first one erected in the town), until January 1, 1856, when I commenced making my arrangements for a removal to Chicago. Birchard and Otis were equal partners. I withdrew from the firm January 1, 1856, and then Anson H. Miller, and one year later Dr. James W. Wilson, came into the bank as partners with Mr. Birchard, under the firm name of Birchard, Miller & Co. I removed to Chicago from Fremont December 9, 1856.

For twenty years previous to the starting of the first bank in Sandusky county, merchants and others doing business with banks had been compelled to send to Norwalk or Sandusky, where the nearest banks were to be found. One was established, how ever, in Tiffin about 1849. It was the custom for some one to go from Fremont, about once a week to one of these places where banks could he found, and do up the whole banking business for all the business men of Fremont. Mr. Birchard, General Buckland, and myself frequently made these trips, purchasing New York drafts for several merchants, getting certificates of deposit, paying notes, etc., at banks. The well-known wealth of Sardis Birchard, and his high standing and character as an old merchant, gave the banking house of Birchard & Otis first-rate standing and credit from the day of its opening. It never had a run upon it, and never failed to pay on demand, and I am rejoiced to say that such has been the standing of its successors to the present time. When the bank was first opened, January 1, 1851, Dr. Alvin Coles, now living at Ottawa, Illinois, at the advanced age of seventy-six,

was employed as cashier in the bank for Birchard & Otis. He had long been a popular county officer in the court-house, a man of sterling worth. His name and face in the bank contributed considerably to make it popular. For a few months after the business was opened, and the word "Bank" was put up over the door, it was a common occurrence for clusters of Sandusky and Ottawa county farmers to form in the street, looking at the sign and discussing the subject. Few of them had ever seen or knew anything about a bank. It was a common thing to hear some of them say: "Well, Birchard has land adjoining my farm, and I know the bank is safe. I'll deposit my money there."

Yours truly, L. B. OTIS.

The building in which Birchard & Otis commenced banking is still standing, and is the small, one-story brick on the east side of Front street, between State and Croghan streets. Mr. F. S. White, a gentleman well known among bankers, was cashier in the banking-house of Birchard & Otis for about two years previous to the summer of 1854, at which time he re-signed to establish with Mr. O. L. Nims and Mr. C. O. Tillotson, another banking. house, which for many years did a highly successful business. The position made vacant by the resignation of Mr. White was offered to Mr. Anson H. Miller, who at the time was bookkeeper for Dr. William F. Kittredge, treasurer of the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad company. He accepted, and came to Fremont on the 2d day of August, 1854.

At the time referred to in Judge Otis' letter, from 1851 to 1856, and for some years later, the customary rate for money was one per cent. a month, and for New York exchange one per cent. premium was charged. The paper money in those days was a queer mixture of various and uncertain values. The sorting of this money was one of the important duties of the bank clerk. The New York city, New England, and some of the Ohio bank notes, being carefully selected to be sent home, or to some broker for the purpose

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of getting in return New York exchange, that being one of the cheapest and most available ways of obtaining it.

On the first day of January, 1857, Dr. James W. Wilson became a partner in the bank of Birchard, Miller & Co., the firm name remaining unchanged. Dr. Wilson had been, since 1838, one of the leading and most successful physicians in the town, was well known in Sandusky and the adjoining counties, and his wealth and careful business habits gave to the bank still another element of strength and safety. The bank continued to prosper with Sardis Birchard, Dr. James W. Wilson, and Anson H. Miller as partners, and without further change until the year 1863, when it was merged into the First National Bank of Fremont, which succeeded the private banking-house of Birchard, Miller & Co., and was organized in 1863, with a paid up capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and with an authorized capital of two hundred thousand dollars.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.

The first preliminary certificate was dated April 24, 1863, but in consequence of a change in the regulations of the department at Washington, this was afterwards cancelled, and another dated May 23, 1863, was adopted; the articles of association were dated May 23, 1863. Both the preliminary certificate and articles of association were signed by the following named persons: Sardis Birchard, James W. Wilson, Anson H. Miller, James Justice, Robert W. B. Mclellan, Jane E. Phelps, LaQuinio Rawson, Martin Bruner, Robert Smith, Abraham Neff, Augustus W. Luckey.

The first stockholders' meeting was held May 27, 1863, at which James Justice was chairman and Robert W. B. Mclellan secretary. At this meeting the following first board of directors was elected: Sardis Birchard, James W. Wilson, James Justice,

Martin Bruner, Robert Smith, Augustus W. Luckey, Anson H. Miller.

The first directors' meeting was held on the same day, at which Sardis Birchard was elected president; James W. Wilson, vice- president, and Anson H. Miller, cashier.

The certificate of authority from the Comptroller of the Currency, at Washing- ton, was dated June 22, 1863. The bank commenced business September 1, 1863, and soon thereafter was designated by the Government as a depository of the public money. The first report of its condition was made April 1, 1864, which shows among its resources, of loans, $121,305.29; total resources, $347,703.05; and among its liabilities, due depositors, $ 133,620.56; due United States as Government depository, $64,450. In its last published re-port, dated October 1, 1851, the bank makes the following showing under the same heads: Loans, $417,443.91; total resources, $694,112.32; due depositors, $414,216.91, which only partially shows the increase in the bank's business. At the time the bank was merged into the First National, Mr. Miller, with the help of a young clerk, did all the routine work of the bank; now six experienced men are constantly employed. The bank came near being the first one organized in the United States, being only number five on the official list.

On the 21st day of January, 1874, Mr. Birchard deceased, and the vacancy there-by caused in the presidency, was filled January 27, 1874, by the election of Dr. James W. Wilson to the place.

The bank has lost by death four directors, viz: James Justice, who died May 28, 1873; Sardis Birchard, who died January 21, 1874; Robert Smith, who died April 2, 1878; Augustus W. Luckey, who died March 20, 1881.

There have been no changes in the offi-

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cers or directors, only such as were caused by death, except in the case of Martin Bruner, who, in consequence of having disposed of his stock in the bank, had ceased to be a director several years before his death. He died September 24, 1876.

The bank never made a practice of paying

interest on deposits-neither did its predecessors after the 1st of April, 1859 At that time both Birchard, Miller & Co. and the banking house of Nims, Tillotson & White, discontinued the custom, satisfied that for the future it would be an unwise one.

This bank has been fortunate not only in its officers, but also in its employees. Mr. Augustus E. Rice, one of the directors and the present assistant cashier, came into the bank in March, 1865, and was at that time a mere boy. His industry, integrity, and good habits have well entitled him to the important place he now occupies, not only in the bank, but as an influential citizen. Mr. William E. Lang, teller; John G. Nuhfer, individual bookkeeper; James W. Wilson, collection clerk; and John W. Pero, general bookkeeper, have all been in the bank for years, and are young men well qualified for the positions they hold.

The present officers of the hank are: James W. Wilson, president; Anson H. Miller, cashier; Augustus E. Rice, assist-ant cashier. The present directors are: James W. Wilson, LaQuinio Rawson, Rutherford B. Hayes, Anson H. Miller, Augustus E. Rice.

Until the first of January, 1877, the-busi- ness of the bank was carried on in the building occupied by Birchard & Otis, previously mentioned. About the 1st of January, 1876, the bank purchased of Mr. P. Close the lot owned and occupied by him on the southwest corner of Front and Croghan streets. The two-story brick building, in which he had been doing business,

was torn down and the same year the. bank erected on the spot a new and elegant three-story Amherst stone front bank building into which it moved January 1, 1879, and in which it still does its business.

The bank was one of the few that continued to pay its depositors during the panic of 1873 in full on demand. The condition of the bank on the 1st of October, 1881, is shown in the following report:

RESOURCES.

Loans $417,443.91

Over drafts

1,275.31

United States bonds 150,000.00

Due from other banks

41,647.15

Real estate 15,618.27

Expense account.

4,425.58

Checks and cash items 106.42

Cash on hand

59,195.68

Due from United States Treasury.

4,500.00

Total

$694,112.32

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock

$100,000.00

Surplus fund

60,000.00

Undrawn profits

18,384.58

Bank notes out

90,000.00

Deposits 414,216.91

Due other banks 10,389.03

Tax account

1,121.80

$694,112.32

Anson H. Miller, who has been so prominently connected with this bank, and consequently with the business interests of the city, is a native of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and was born May 2, 1824. His father, John Miller, was a descendant of Nathan Doyles, who was a sufferer by the burning of New London, Connecticut, during the Revolution, and to whose heirs was granted a large tract in the Firelands near New London, in Huron county. By inheritance and purchase Mr. Miller came into possession of the whole tract. He removed with his family to Norwalk in 1825 and in 1839 settled on the farm near New London. Anson H., during the family's residence in Nor-

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walk, attended the seminary, and during the year 1845 continued his studies at Milan academy. In 1847 Mr. Miller entered the employ of Prague & Sherman, lumber dealers, at New Orleans. He was there about fourteen months, during the yellow fever epidemic, and was himself a sufferer from the disease. In 1852 he attended Commercial college at Cleveland, and soon after was employed as bookkeeper in the office of the treasurer of the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, which position he held until entering the bank in 1854. Since 1856 the burden of management has mainly been borne by the cashier. The exceptionally successful career of the bank, both as a partnership and a corporation, is the best commentary on Mr. Miller's worth as a banker. His management has always been honorable to himself and profitable to the stockholders.

BANK OF FREMONT.

The partnership of Nims, Tillotson & White was formed in 1854, and conducted a general banking business under that name for about four years. The name was then changed to Bank of Fremont, and business conducted to the entire satisfaction of its patrons until 1878, when every depositor was paid in full and a successful career closed by a dissolution of the partnership.

THE BANK OF FREMONT.

In October, 1880, a partnership under the above style began a general banking business with L. Wideman, president; C. M. Spitzer, cashier, and J. C. Wideman, assistant cashier. The business has been in charge of the two last named gentlemen. In addition to general banking an exchange and brokerage business is transacted.

FREMONT BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

Besides the long-established and more

extensive firms mentioned in the above pages, the following business houses and factories are located in Fremont:

Agricultural implements-Treat & Corl. Architect-J. C. Johnson.

Attorneys-at-law-Bartlett & Finefrock, H. P. and H. S. Buckland & Zeigler, Samuel Brinkerhoff, Everett & Fowler, Byron Dudrow, F. R. Fronizer, Finefrock & Bell, Garver Bros., J. L. Green, Lemmon, Wilson & Rice, Frank O'Farrell, Smith & Kinney, M. L. Snyder, L. E. Stetler, M. E. Tyler, E. Williams.

Baggage, express and hack line-Dr. G. O. Harlan, J. H. Stewart.

Bakers-D. Hock, H. Lesher, A. Voght.

Barbers-J. Berling, O. E. Curtis, F. E.

Gerber, F. J. Rheinegger, F. Schoeffel, S. Wolf.

Billiard halls-C. P. DePuyster, George Nighswaner, W. D. Sherwood, C. Grett.

Blacksmiths-G. A. Berger, D. S. Blue, J. Cookson, John Fend, G. Greiner, William Groves, W. Hund, Peter Nolf, D. Rooney.

Bottling works-A. Hauck.

Cabinet-makers-S. Doer, Casper Smith.

Carpenters-S. E. Anderson, A. Foster, Anthony Kiser, Rich & Richards, J. B. Schraff.

Carriage-manufacturers-D. Consedine & Son, John Keefer.

Cigar manufacturers-A. Good, J. L. Rafferty, John Stober.

Clothing-Charles Strong, B. Youngman, W. Dean & Co.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 67

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