USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 44
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A carding mill was constructed by Braden & Yunker about 1850. The Lees conducted a furniture store, and were interested in a grist mill. The mill was set on fire in 1847 and destroyed.
John Fritcher established the first harness shop about 1840. Jacob Fritcher established his saddlery in 1842. James Lewis had his shop, in 1846 or 1847, at Risdon. Andrew Emerine estab- lished his harness shop in 1848, three years after his arrival here. Thomas J. Pillars, a brother of Judge Pillars, established harness shops previous to 1848. William Weaver and Jeremiah Coe were harness makers at Rome in 1849. John W. McDonnell who came with his parents in 1842 was a harness maker. Samuel Gilder-
sleeve was an early harness maker. Jacob Kridler came sometime previous to 1861. Isaac Warner opened his harness shop at Fostoria in 1861, having previously worked for Andrew Emerine from October, 1855, at Rome.
Joel Hale, Colhour and J. B. Way were the first blacksmiths. In 1842 James McDonnell opened a shop at Rome.
RISDON VILLAGE.
In 1847 S. G. Malony moved to Risdon, and thence to Rome in 1851, voting for the name of "Fostoria" subsequently. He states that in 1847 Mrs. Mickley, Sr., kept the Mickley House. Braden & Yunker had a carding mill at Risdon at this time, and William Braden conducted the post office, with Childs as assistant postmaster, and owned a furniture shop where the Aylesworth Mill later was. E. W. Thomas was a grocer; James Lewis harness maker; Daniel Ragan, tailor; John Quincy Albert, shoemaker. This trio worked in a small frame building, which stood in what is the center of Perry and Elm streets. John Becker was also a shoe- maker. On the west side of Perry, fronting on Elm street, was
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the Bement Foundry and Plow Shop, making. in 1855, about 1,500 plows.
The Lee Grist mill was burned about May 1, 1847, after the mortgagors had sold the machinery, and Lee moved to Indiana.
Dr. Dana and Dr. Caples were the physicians at Risdon. Henry L. Caples kept a dry goods store until 1853, when he and Luther W. Caples moved to Missouri. P. D. Caples had a farm close by and L. Caples also had a farm on the southwest corner of Jackson township. Dr. Dana died at Risdon about 1853. The Methodist Episcopal society had a church building on the east bank of Portage river, which was an old hewed log building in 1847. Rev. Mr. Elliott was resident preacher.
William Braden moved to Illinois and died on the Kankaket Reservation about 1862. James Robinson accompanied him to Kankakee in 1857.
Thomas B. Jacobs opened a furniture store at Risdon about 1848.
The Hammer family, nortorious in some respects, were here.
George Heis established a brick yard near the Portage river prior to 1847. In 1848 S. G. and J. T. C. Malony established a brick yard north of Heis'. Heis died November 5, 1884. Moffit established a yard south of Malony's in 1854, and made the brick used in the Foster store building.
In 1847 Mr. Hobbs taught the Risdon schools.
John Vroman and the Morgans were old storekeepers at Risdon. Jeremiah Mickey, while making a ditch to convey water to his house, was buried by the clay caving in, just after he had warned his own daughter and Widow Jacob's daughter to keep away. Heck Thompson, a negro barber married to an Indian half-breed, was the first colored citizen of Risdon.
Jefferson B. Way was a blacksmith, and Cochran and .Weaver & Coe, harness-makers.
About 1849 one Smith opened a hotel on Union street. A carriage factory was operated by George Geor on Jackson and Union streets. This industry employed sixteen men. Between 1847 and 1851 Geer lost two wives by death and married the third. He died penniless in Oregon, within the last decade.
S. G. Malony opened a grocery north of the Foster elevator. in 1855. In 1855 he established a furniture shop at Rome. About 1846 Joseph Emmett also had a furniture shop. Ile moved to Iowa.
Lyman Kettels established a furniture store at Risdon about 1849. John Dildine was a cooper there in 1847.
John Portz and Nicholas Portz settled in Rome at an early date among the first settlers, and established a wagon and carriage shop.
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The first three brick residences at Fostoria were erected pre- vious to 1845 by Braden, R. C. Caples at Risdon, and one of the first was Marshal Hays', at Rome, the latter occupying the lot south of Foster's new block. T. B. Jacobs, Andrew Emerine and Edwin Bement erected the first modern brick houses in 1860-2. The first brick business block was erected by C. W. Foster. Joel Hale built the crockery store during the war. Andrew Emerine built a brick house. Leonard Morgan, John Andes, Martin King- seed and Liner built each a brick house, filling the lot between the "Hays House" and Tiffin street, just after the war.
Fostoria at one time had two postoffices. It came about this way: Rome was Whig and Risdon Democratic in politics. Con- sequently in 1855 Risdon got the postoffice. Rome petitioned for
OLDEST HOUSE IN FOSTORIA.
a postoffice but could not obtain it by reason of the law which re- quired postoffices to be at least four miles apart. Consequently Charles W. Foster, filled with a desire to obtain an office for Rome. petitioned for an office at "Stoner." four miles from Risdon. As there was another Rome in Ohio, the office "Stoner" was used. The day of the first delivery was set and the mail carrier, on horse back, traveling from Perrysburg to McCutchensville, had some difficulty in finding a town where there was none. But Mr. Foster, alive to the situation, also on horseback, went down the old Me- Cutchensville road and met the carrier, asking him if he were looking for something. The carrier replied that he couldn't locate "Stoner." Mr. Foster asked to see his papers and after glancing over them informed the fellow that a mistake had been made, that
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the papers should read one-fourth in place of four miles and that the new "Stoner" postoffice was on the site of Rome. The credulous carrier took the hint and for years Rome got her mail at the "Stoner" postoffice, next to the old Foster-Crocker store. Thus both Rome and Risdon had a postoffice. or, more exactly, Fostoria had two.
Fostoria's postal facilities are now unexcelled. Over thirty mails are received and as many dispatched in the course of a day. Besides being located on the Baltimore and Ohio and Nickle Plate, great through mail routes between the east and west. the north and south lines are used to such advantage in connections that Fostoria has also benefit of the mails of the Lake Shore, Pennsylvania and Erie lines.
THE OLD FOSTORIA ACADEMY.
By Capt. F. R. Stewart.
Among the various institutions of Fostoria which live now only in history, but which had a marked influence in developing the character, both intellectually and morally, of its people, is the Fostoria Academy. It had its primeval beginning in a select school organized by Rev. Wm. C. Turner, a Presbyterian minister who organized the First Presbyterian church in the then village of Fostoria, in the year 1858, and in the following year organized a select school, occupying rooms in the second story of the old Foster block. Mr. Turner gathered into his school from forty to sixty of the brightest and most aggressive young men and women of the town and country around. A large number of these at- tended this Select school, a term in the Spring and Fall. and taught school in the surrounding country districts during the winter months. Mr. Turner also succeeded in gathering in, either actively or nominally, a very large proportion of his pupils into membership in the Presbyteran church, and a few of them still survive as active official members of this church.
In the Spring of 1861 the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion stripped the school of nearly all its male members; no less than thirty of them including. Rev. William C. Turner. the teacher. enlisted in the Union Army. This ended for a time the beginning of the Fostoria Academy. More than half of those who enlisted sacrificed their lives on the altar of liberty. £ With the exception of four, all enlisted as privates, but quite a large number of these became prominent commissioned officers during the war.
After the close of the war an attempt was made by a number of the leading business men of Fostoria to reorganize the academy as the Fostoria Normal School, with Professor J. Fraize Richard as
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principal, and for two or three years a good sized school was main- tained. But it finally suspended for want of good financial man- agement. Again, in the fall of 1875, an association of the business men of Fostoria was formed for the purpose of establishing a Normal school. This association was composed of Michael Beilger, Dr. A. J. Longfellow, Capt. F. R. Stewart, Fred Manecke, J. L. Kenowen, J. A. Bradner, John E. Wilkison, Dr. A. S. Williams and Leigh Dearbaugh, and articles of incorporation were signed. At this writing only two of these incorporators are living, viz : Fred Manecke and Captain F. R. Stewart. Before this movement had materialized it gave place in July. 1876. to a petition by twenty of the leading citizens, presented to the Findlay Conference of the United Brethren church, praying that an academy be established and maintained under the auspices of that denomination; and in September of the same year the Sandusky Conference of the United Brethren church granted the petition, on conditions that the people of Fostoria would raise sufficient funds to purchase grounds and erect suitable buildings for the academy. This was done to the amount of $22,000, including four acres of ground donated by Hon. Chas. Foster, valued at $6,000. A board of trustees was appointed by the Conference, consisting of several ministers and laymen of the United Brethren church and a couple citizens of Fostoria, not members of this church, among the latter being Mr. Foster. Rev. Isaac Crouse was appointed secretary and Rev. D. R. Miller, financial agent. An executive and building committee was appointed consisting of Rev. D. R. Miller, Rev. Isaac Crouse, Captain F. R. Stewart, Jesse Bowers and Rev. Ruben French.
The corner stone of the academy building was placed in posi- tion on August 14, 1879, General John C. Lee, of Tiffin, delivering the oration. Prof. W. L. Jackson, Ph. D. was elected principal, in the fall of 1879, and continued at the head of the faculty until the fall of 1884. when he was elected principal of the Union schools of Fostoria and was succeeded by Professor M. De Witt Long. Pro- fessor Long was succeeded by Professor J. E. Lehman and he, by Professor Balcom. All of these principals had efficient instructors in the various departments.
On the whole. the Fostoria Academy was an important factor in the intellectual and moral uplift of Fostoria. Unfortunately, the original conditions on which the academy was established were never fully complied with. One of the conditions on which the people donated the $22.000 for building and grounds was that the Sandusky Conference of the United Brethren church would raise an endowment fund of not less than $100.000 for its support. This was never complied with. They did raise a pittance of an endow- ment of about $15.000. The income from this meager endowment. with the tuitions from students, fell so far below the running ex-
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penses that the trustees were compelled to borrow money by mort- gaging the property; and this, in turn, meant only bankruptcy in the end.
The school was suspended and the property sold to satisfy the mortgagees. It was finally purchased by Professor W. E. Ash- craft of Indiana and a few friends of his. A stock company was organized and Professor Ashcraft as principal opened again the academy for patronage. Among the local trustees of the new orga- nization were Professor Ashcraft, Ex-Governor Charles Foster and Captain F. R. Stewart, with Governor Foster as president. After the death of Governor Foster, Captain Stewart was elected presi- dent. Under the management of Professor Ashcraft, the academy was growing in attendance and rapidly assuming a paying basis when, unfortunately, the building took fire from an over-heated furnace and was totally destroyed. Thus ended what all had hoped would become an important educational institution.
THE FOSTORIA OF THE PRESENT.
The Fostoria of today is beautiful as well as busy. Her resi- dence streets and boulevards are bordered with stately shade trees. Perhaps all towns have them. but this city has them in abundance. Visitors marvel at the sight. Her well groomed lawns. her pretty drives, her residences are good to behold. They are beautiful. But there is smoke in Fostoria out in the manufacturing districts. and that means industry, prosperity. Smoke is beautiful, too.
Fostoria is growing and, as proved previously, it is a growth and not a boom.
The population is 11,000.
Tributary population 10,000.
Fostoria has nearly forty manufacturers.
Fostoria has fourteen religious denominations.
Fostoria has one parochial and seven public schools.
Fostoria has fifty lodges and societies.
In 1899, Fostoria's three banks had money on deposit not ex- ceeding $600,000. Today the total bank deposits in this city amount to but little less than two millions.
A few facts and figures may not be out of place in considering the local water works and water system. The present system was constructed in 1892 at a cost of $200.000. The actual cost to date totals a trifle in excess of $260,000. There is a reservoir capacity of 115,000,000 gallons. By reason of late improvements the capacity has been increased by at least 60.000.000 gallons. The water is pure and soft, being filtered by a mammoth filter con- structed in 1906 at a cost of $20.000. There are two reservoirs and a large pumping station, in connection with which a beautiful
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park is maintained by the city. High pressure is obtained by gravity and direct pressure method. The water system consists of over twenty-five miles of main varying in size from four to fourteen inches. One hundred and fifty hydrants. properly located, give the city adequate fire protection. Water service to families is de- cidedly reasonable and special low rates are made to factories. It has been the custom of the city to run water mains, where needed, to factories free of all cost. One million gallons of water are pumped each day.
The sewage system consists of over twenty-three miles of main and lateral sewers and a large sewage disposal plant, located out- side of the city on the Perrysburg pike. This plant was constructed at a cost of $30,000. It has a capacity sufficient to meet three times the present demand. The city gladly has extended sewers to new manufacturing plants and no charges are made for the use of the same.
Fostoria has reason to boast of her fire department. It is equipped with good teams. flame fighting apparatus of the most modern types and the personnel of the fire department is such that it is small wonder that the annual fire loss, in proportion to the number of calls, is smaller than in any city in northern Ohio. R. B. Linhart is fire chief. having served in that capacity for sixteen years.
Fostoria is a railroad center, and, as such, is a distributing point unequaled in convenience. and advantage. Five steam rail- roads, the Hocking Valley. Baltimore & Ohio, Nickle Plate (New York, Chicago & St. Louis) Lake Erie & Western and Toledo & Ohio Central run through the city, tapping the east, west, north and south. Two interurbans also add to Fostoria's railroad equipment, the Toledo. Fostoria and Findlay and the Tiffin, Fos- toria and Eastern. From forty to forty-five passenger trains enter and leave the city daily and the interurban lines give hourly service in either direction.
The Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Railway Company was organized in 1900 and in 1901 completed the first part of its line. that connecting Fostoria with Findlay. In 1905 the road was ex- tended from Fostoria north to the village of Pemberville. and during the present year the construction into the city of Toledo is being rapidly pushed, with a good prospect that through cars will be in operation over the completed line in the early winter, thereby improving Fostoria's already splendid transporation facili- ties by connections with the many electric systems out of Toledo.
Reeves Park, five miles from Fostoria, is owned by and operated by the company, and owing to the lack of a similar play- ground in this city is really looked upon and patronized as Fostoria's park.
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The Tiffin, Fostoria and Eastern Electric Railway Company is a pioneer in the business, the line, extending from Tiffin to Fostoria, being one of the first of the kind constructed in the United States. The first cars were run over the line August of 1898. In 1901, the company purchased extensive grounds and established a park called Meadowbrook, near the village of Bas- com, located between Tiffin and Fostoria. A large pavilion graces the grounds, which affords accommodation for theatricals, dancing and pienie parties. The grounds are rendered superbly attractive by reason of their natural beauty, development and the care which is taken of them.
If a city is known by the newspapers it keeps, Fostoria has reason to be satisfied with the publications associated with its past history and present progress.
The Daily Times, an independent Democratic newspaper, described by its editor as "newsocratic" in its politics, and from the time of its inception devoted to the policy of furthering the interests of Fostoria, is one of the best known in northwest Ohio. It was the first newspaper in northwest Ohio, outside of Toledo, that installed the Mergenthaler linotype.
The Times was founded in August, 1890, and is the outgrowth of the Democrat, founded in 1875. now the weekly edition.
Mr. Roscoe Carle first became identified with the concern as reporter in 1894 and again in 1897. In November, 1902, he became lessee of the plant, and two and one-half years ago became sole owner. Immediately after the purchase, the fine, centrally located building at the flat-iron between Main and Perry streets was purchased and the plant installed therein, near and including the site of a former office of the plant.
The Times is the only daily newspaper plant in the three counties of Seneca. Wood and Hancock owned and controlled by an individual. This unity of management and policy is effect- ively supplemented by a system of specialization among the employees. Independence in each department is encouraged and the co-operative principle extends to the elimination of distinction between employer and employed. The pay-roll ex- ceeds $500 monthly, and to the policy of good pay for good work, and cordial co-operation is due the pronounced success of the · establishment.
Official heads : Roscoe Carle, proprietor and general manager ; Jesse E. Dixon, foreman and superintendent of building; Fred Lackens, business manager; Blaine Hamilton, news editor.
The Review Printing Company. are publishers of Fostoria's Republican papers, the Daily Review-Dispatch and the Fostoria Review-Dispatch ( weekly). Both papers have good paid circula- tions and enjoy a liberal patronage from Fostoria's up-to-date merchants.
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In April. 1896, the Daily Review, then three years old, pub- lished by the Review Printing Company, with J. P. De Wolfe present postmaster, as managing editor, was consolidated with the Daily Dispatch, published by Lockhart. Son & Co. The Review Printing Company which effected this consolidation, has grown steadily ever since, as its new quarters, which are as convenient and well adapted to the business as any in the state, readily testify.
Fostoria may well feel proud of her schools. Perhaps all cities think their schools are marvels of their kind. Be that as it may, the kind is right in Fostoria. The proportions of this book will not permit a resume of all the work done along this line in the past and a complete outline of the present course of study, but the statements, for the most part, will give parents resident in other cities, who are contemplating a betterment of their con- dition by moving to Fostoria. a well defined idea of the pro- gressiveness and thoroughness of the local schools.
FOSTORIA HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The city has within its boundaries seven large, well ventilated, well heated, airy, sanitary school buildings, buildings which are kept in perfect order. and, in connection with each, play grounds of adequate size are maintained.
The theory upon which the schools in Fostoria are conducted may be summed up as follows : The supervising architect of American society and civilization is the public school. This being a fact it is the duty of those at its head to make the school work not only educational, but interesting, devoid of the drudgery which
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has rendered the school a bore and a burden to the little folk, filled with restless energy, With this idea in mind, teachers are selected who are not only proficient in books but who have the art, for art it is, to bring to the pupils learning and truth, and these in an attractive and interesting manner. A Fostoria instructor must be a friend to his or her scholars as well as an instructor.
Fostoria schools are democratic. There are no caste distinc- tions. In the high school there exists no "frats" nor sororities. Clean athletics are encouraged; debate has the support of the high school faculty. And Fostoria is feared in these lines by all
who oppose her. In Fostoria schools, both the mind and the
body are developed. And the morals are not neglected.
The departmental system is carried out, not only in the high school but in the upper classes of the grammar grades, thus freeing the younger pupils from the fatigue incident to sitting throughout a session in the same seats, which condition has a tendency to tire the body and benumb the mind. In place of a single instructor teaching a varied number of studies, he teaches that for which he is the better adapted.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized at Risdon in 1833 by Rev. Mr. Chase, who was succeeded immediately by Rev. Elam Day. The first house of worship was a hewed log house on the north side of High street (now Summit), near the creek, built in 1833-34 at Risdon. This was used until 1852, when the late . frame building was erected by Rev. Mr. Collier. This frame building was sold to Dr. Ballou in March, 1885, and was torn down. It stood on the northeast corner of Fremont and Main streets just south of the present Methodist Episcopal church. There are no records in existence dealing with the church here in early days. In 1846 Rev. Seymour was preacher. Revs. Jewett and Ellicot were here at an early day, with Raymond, presiding elder. Revs. Jewett and Crabs were here in 1848, with Thomas Barkdull as presiding elder. Revs. Leonard Hill and Lee came in 1849; Rev. Milligan succeeded Rev. Lee in 1850; Revs. Collier and J. P. Pelton were here in 1851-52. and the former with Rev. Monett in 1852-53; Rev. Monett was here alone in 1853; Rev. Nathan Taylor in 1855; Revs. Collier and Lansing in 1856; Rev. J. A. Shannon in 1858. .
About 1847 Rev. James Anderson established what was known as the Methodist church in Rome. He erected a frame church building on what is now Wood street, on the west line of the town of Rome. This building, which was never plastered, had split basswood seats without backs. In 1851 he wished the Risdonites to come to his church and complete it. but they took an opposite course and erected Fremont street church. Anderson's church was subsequently devoted to manufacturing industries, until
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destroyed by fire. Among Mr. Anderson's friends were some of the old settlers of Risdon who moved to Rome. The Collier revival did away with the discord the two churches created.
A house of worship was later built and the citizens generally. more particularly Mr. Foster. contributed very liberally.
The Methodist Protestant church was organized at Fostoria some years prior to that now known as the Methodist church, and a house of worship was erected at the corner of Poplar and Centre streets.
The Methodist church of Fostoria, formerly the Methodist Protestant church. was re-organized under state law August 2, 1874, Rev. J. S. Thorp, presiding. A church building was com- pleted on West Centre street in July, 1885. The edifice is a neat structure, 54x50 feet in dimensions, and has a seating capacity of about 400. It was dedicated July 9, 1885, Revs. J. A. Thrapp and O. V. W. Chandler. of Tiffin, officiating. The pastors of this church have been : J. A. Thrapp. C. W. Wolf. G. W. Bothwell, J. B. Roberts. L. Bowman, E. Scott. Thomas Orr, F. W. Link and S. S. Fleming; Rev. J. W. King came in 1884. £ In December, 1876. Dr. G. E. Reynolds was elected permanent secretary, vice T. N. Lewis.
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