History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 67

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 67

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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 en- larged 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 propri- etors, 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 busi- ness enterprise, and but few of the citi- zens 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 com-

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY

menced 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 en- abling 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 disas- trous 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 in- creasing, and in eight years he was rur- ning 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 in- terest 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-

tmued in the woollen-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 dis- solved 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 contin- ued 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 their manufacture of carriages. After con- tinuing here a few years Mr. Pease re- moved to the east side of the river, and erecting a brick block on Front street, moved in his stock. In 1848 O. A. Rob- erts 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 build- ing, and now owned by Roberts & She !. don, was built in 1863.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

In 1840 F. I. Norton and Cornelius Letcher, recognizing the fact that they were in the centre of a rich farming coun- try, 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, en- tered 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 pur- chased 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 mem- ber 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 part- nership, 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 per- manent 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 con- cern 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 em- ployed. Their work consists in the build- ing of portable, stationary, and mill en- gines, the Champion engine being their principal manufacture. This latter engine was patented in 1875, 1876, and 1877. 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 manu- facture 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 Wil- liam 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. Ed- gerton bought out McArdle's interest and

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

the same year G. G. Edgerton ~ . e 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 build- ing 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 success- ful 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 pres- ent 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 build- ing 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., com- menced 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 .. s 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 part- ners 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 Re- bellion, 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 for- merly 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 busi- ness 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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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

has been located a short distance west of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern de- pot. Mr. West purchased Mr. Dana's in- terest 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 en- larged by the Trommer Extract of Malt Co.), and continued the manufacture of spokes until 1874, when he sold the build- ing to Edward Underhill. Williard Nor- ton, 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. Stephen- son, 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. Til- lotson, 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 Tron- mer's Extract of Malt. The company oc- cupy 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 Buck- land, jr. The two latter gentlemen with- drew 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 con- sumption, 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, extend- ing 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 invest- ment. Movements were first made early in 1872, by William B. Sheldon, for the or- ganization 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.

R. P. Buckland, L. Q. Rawson, F. S. White, James W. Wilson, and A. H. Mil- ler, 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 or_ · ganization; 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 man- ufacture of railroad cars, in accordance with the original intention of the organiza- tion; but about this time the panic of 1873 began, and with it fell off the de- mand for cars. The works were never put in operation for their manufacture, but in June, 1875, the name of the con :- pany 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 tim- ber 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 indus- tries of the place. Still, as time and change go on, it may be interesting, as in fact it is already, to know that ship-build- ing 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 plat- form 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 cov- ering over the platform and no hold in the boat. It was merely a floating platform propelled by horse-power. But this sim- ple 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 Cap- tain 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 com- mand of Captain Morris Tyler in person, was a profitable investment, and plied for a number of years between Lower San- dusky and intermediate ports. Her tor. nage 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 Cin- cinnati 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 To- ledo. She afterwards became old and un- seaworthy, 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 Muskal- longe 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 Cap- tain 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 work- ing 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 be- ing in the carrying trade from Lower San- dusky 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 be- tween 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 embar- rased, 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 Muskallonge 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 Wil- liams was master-builder. She was built and launched near where the bridge of

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

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 Cap. tain 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 com. manded 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 es- teemed citizens and prominent business men of Fremont. After being in the Fre- mont trade about two years she was sold to Messrs. Hubbard, of Sandusky City, and, thereafter, visited Fremont occasion- ally, but not regularly.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 67

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040