History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 59

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088

USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 59

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The Shoemaker Mill, built in 1845 by R. M. Shoemaker, was operated from 1855 to 1858 by George W. Cunningham. Its location was one mile north of Washington Street bridge, now operated by Speck & Sons.

The John Keller Mill, built in 1848, was taken charge of in 1858 by George W. Cunningham. This mill burned down January 4, 1860. Its location was two miles and a half down the river from Washington Street Mill.

William Campbell and J. S. Robinson conducted a cabinet and chair factory separately after the dissolution of their partnership, June 23, 1832.

The first Tannery was established about 1827, on the northeast corner of Market and Monroe Streets, by Andrew Frintchey, who died of cholera in 1834.

The Pittinger Tannery was established in 1832, by Benjamin and John Pittinger.

Fleming & Schock established their tannery on the site of Pittinger's in 1839.

The Allen Brewery, the pioneer of its kind, was built on the opposite side of the street from the old Methodist Church, on the river bank.

Myers founded a small brewery where Ulrich's drug store now stands.

Sting's Brewery was established on Sandusky Street.

The Kolb Bros'. Brewery was built at the corner of Market and Sandusky Streets.

In 1848 Christ Mueller and Val. Schmidt established a lager beer brewery at Tiffin, and in 1854 built a new brewery on River Street. In 1860 Mueller purchased Schmidt's interest, and converted the old brewery into a malt house. Schmidt died in 1865, having, jointly with Mueller, the credit of establishing the first lager beer brewery in Ohio. This is known as the Clinton Brewery.

H. Hubach's City Brewery is also an important industry.

Guy Stevens and Daniel Dildine established the pioneer foundry at the north end of Monroe Street.

Jesse Wolf's Foundry, which some allege to have taken the place of Allen's Brewery, came next, then the Loomis & Nyman Foundry in 1847, and follow- ing this all the iron works mentioned in the history of the city's modern man- ufacturers.

Rolla Johnson's Ashery was on the south side of Perry Street, near Rock Creek.

In January, 1863, W. R. Chamberlin established the Tiffin Barrel Factory.

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The first brick yards were established in 1830-31, one by John Strong near the east end of Tiffin Street, and the other at Fort Ball. At the former yard the brick for St. Mary's Church were manufactured in 1831 by Hennessy, Kenny & Delaney; those for John Goodin's hotel were also made in that yard.

John Hoffman established the pioneer pottery of the county in 1834. William D. Searles started the first tin utensil factory.

The first gun shop and lock-making and repairing business was established by Valentine Seewald about 1834, in Springdale.

Peter Van Nest, said to be the pioneer carriage builder of Ohio, established a carriage factory near Allen's brewery, opposite the first Methodist Episcopal Church, which was destroyed by fire January 26, 1854, when the first free bridge was destroyed.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, 1885.

The business houses of Tiffin, including hotels, stores, saloons and manu- facturing establishments, numbered in 1884 412, and to-day there are about 600, a significant comparison. Together with the several business houses, there are 8 newspaper offices, 24 law offices, 23 justices' and notaries' offices, 19 physicians' offices, and about 15 offices devoted to insurance and abstract of title business. The leading factories are named in the following lists: Found- ers and Machinists-Tiffin Agricultural Implement Works, Loomis & Nyman's Foundry, and the National Machinery Company's Works. Furniture man- ufacturers and dealers-Enterprise Manufacturing Company, School Furni- ture Manufacturing Company, Grummel & Son, Fiege Bros., Charles W. Horn and Henry Lemp. Harrow manufacturers-O'Brien Bros. Manufactur- ing company. Hominy mill of J. P. Baker; potteries of J. Eidt & Son and Francis X. Schultis; potash factory of Henry Trefflich; repair shops of Bucher & Leichti; saw-mills of Frank Flumerfelt, David Martin and Martin Moser; creamery and butter factory of Buskirk & Company; sash, door and blind factories of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, the Tiffin Manufac. turing Company, the Tiffin Union Churn Company, Solomon Kaup and Will- iam B. Stanley; Ohio Stove Company; water elevator factory of L. Van- nette; boiler factory of John Canty; marble and granite works of Joseph Harter, Thom & Co. and H. W. Yeager; bent wood works of Fishbaugh & Co. and F. Smith; woodenware works of the Tiffin Churn Company, and box fac- tory of Robert H. Whitlock & Co. ; wagon hound factory of Fishbaugh & Co .; boot and shoe factory of William A. Sponsler; brick and tile factories of Alber Behm and William and Otto Heilman, late John Heilman; broom factory of Sedon Straub; breweries of H. Hubach (City Brewery) and C. Mueller (Clin- ton Brewery); distillery of Andrew J. Brickner, C. K. Bowman; carriage and wagon works of Henry Crooks, Lewis Deihl, Glassner & Shock, Blasius Hepp, Kuder & Fry, O'Brien Bros. Manufacturing Company, P. Van Nest's Sons, and H. S. Wenner & Co .; church furniture factories of the Tiffin Manufacturing Company; cigar factories of August Dressell, Benjamin Schinnes, F. J. Schneckenburger, Charles Weimer and Bernard Welter; woolen mills of E. S. Rockwell; cooperages of Wendell Kuhn, A. Miller and Samuel Mundwiler; gas and electric lights-Tiffin Gas Light and Tiffin Edison Electric Light Companies; flouring-mills of W. S. Bacon; Clifton Roller Mills, P. J. Hyatt, Kimmel & Keller and McAdoo & Co .; fire brick and fire clay manufac- turing works of the Tiffin Gas Light Company; tinware works of George Ernest, Joseph L. Ranker and Ed. R. Stephenson, the soap works of the Tiffin; Soap Company; in December, 1883, the Tiffin Stove Polish Company was organized, of which A. L. Flack is general manager; there is also Jacobs Neck- yoke manufactory.

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Loomis & Nyman's Foundry may be said to have been founded by Jesse Wolf. who sold his buildings and machinery to Philetus Nyman and J. D. Loomis. in 1847. In 1848 the new proprietors enlarged the works, and sub- sequently added the manufacture of saw-mill machinery, plows and steam- engines, to the old-time work of the foundry. After the destruction of the Van Nest Carriage Shops, the new firm purchased the site, extended the old building and erected a new building. During the last ten years special atten- tion has been given to well-boring machinery, and the firm has the reputation of being among the most extensive manufacturers of this class of machinery in the United States. The steam engines used in the Tiffin Agricultural Works, and in the O'Brien Carriage Works, were manufactured here. George D. Loomis became a member of the firm in 1879. This industry gives constant employment to twenty-five men, and for a great part of the year to fifty men.

Tiffin Agricultural Works of Smith, Barnes & Co. were established in 1858, south of the German Catholic Church, and the manufacture of agricult- ural implements was carried on there until 1873.

Tiffin Agricultural Works Company was incorporated February 1, 1865, with . Abel T. Barns, N. M. Barns. George Shannon, E. C. Umsted, and Michael Sullivan, members. The capital stock was placed at $50,000. In February, 1873. the stock was increased $25,000, and in March $15,000, making a total of $90,000. In 1872-73 the present buildings of the company were erected on Harrison and Minerva Streets, at a cost of over $90,500, including machinery. The presidents of the company since 1865 have been A. T. Barnes, 1865-70; C. C. Park, 1870-72; E. C. Umsted, 1872-75; George Shannon, 1875-82; B. G. Atkins. 1882-85. The secretaries since 1865 have been: E. C. Umsted, 1865- 70; B. G. Atkins, 1870-82; R. Atkins, 1882-85. N. M. Barnes was superin- tendent from 1858 till his death in 1874. William H. Hall, the present superin- tendent, was appointed in 1874. The company gives employment to 125 men, the majority of whom are skilled mechanics. Horse-rakes, corn-shellers, hay- tedders, brick machines, etc., are manufactured. The value of annual product is about $175,000.

Saffell & Baldwin Churn Manufacturing Company was established in 1864, with building on site of present Union Company's Works. They carried on business until 1876, when they reorganized as the Tiffin Union Churn Com- pany.

Tiffin Union Churn Company was incorporated February 9, 1876, with A. C. Baldwin, president; Harrison Noble, vice-president, and C. H. Baldwin, sec- retary, who have been re-elected annually down to the present time. The buildings were erected in 1875, on the east side of Washington Street, along the river bank, at a cost of about $18,000. The machinery now in use is valued at about $12,000, and the annual product at $50,000. The industry gives employment to sixty hands.

O'Brien Bros. Manufacturing Company was established at Galva, Ill., by James O'Brien, in 1855. and conducted there until 1859, when he, with Will- iam S. and Joseph P. O'Brien, established their works at Princeville. Ill. From this time until 1865 the manufacture of wagons and carriages was carried on there. In 1865 the machinery was moved to Kewanee, Ill. when the firm was reorganized as a stock company under the name of O'Brien Bros. Manufacturing Company. This industry, employing fifty-five men, was moved to Tiffin January 1, 1882, where five acres of ground and 500,000 brick were donated by a few citizens toward the establishment of such works. In September, 1881, work on the buildings was begun, and completed in January, 1882, at a cost of $50,000, including machinery, some of which was moved

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

from Illinois. The business is now under the management of James O'Brien, William S. and Joseph P. O'Brien, brothers; John E., Henry E., and George N .. sons of James O' Brien, and Eugene N. O'Brien, son of William O'Brien. This industry employs 100 men, including the Messrs. O'Brien, not one of whom is a drone member, each filling a department in the office or shops. Such an industry has brought to Tiffin a great number of skilled workmen, and one of the most enterprising manufacturing firms in the entire West. The business is owned to-day by J. M. Kaull, vice-president of the Commercial Bank, referred to in the history of banking. The main building is 300x54 feet, three stories, all brick, on stone foundation, with iron and asbestos roof. They extend from South Greenfield Street to the Baltimore & Ohio and Northwestern Ohio Railroads, from which roads side-tracks enter the grounds. Wagons, carriages, and vibrating harrows are the special manufactures. Their wagons find a ready market all through the West to the Pacific. Their carriages are favorably known in the East and West. The harrow was patented by W. S. O'Brien in 1865, renewed in 1874, and forms one of the most popular farm implements in use. The engine is a fifty horse-power stationary, manu- factured by Loomis & Nyman, of Tiffin, for the works. The first floor con- sists of suite of offices, carriage repository, shipping and receiving department, wood-working department, engine room, blacksmith department; capacity sev- enty-five hub wagons and fifty carriages per week. On the second-floor are the dry-house, oiling room, finishing department, carriage ware-room, trim- ming department. On the third floor is the wagon-painting department, carriage paint shop, etc. This immense establishment is the fourth one erected under the supervision of Mr. O'Brien. Every department is carried forward to the finishing point.

Clifton Steam Flouring-mills were built in 1860 by George W. Cunningham, who conducted this industry until 1878, when the mills became the property of the National Exchange Bank. The property was purchased by W. S. Bacon (who owned the Bloomville Mills) in 1879. The capacity is about 150 barrels per day. The mill is equipped with thirteen sets of rollers, and a full line of modern machinery, driven by a seventy-five horse-power engine. The mill, a three-story brick building. stands on the bank of the river, corner of Water and Washington Streets. The industry gives employment to seven hands.

McAdoo, Einsel & Shears' Steam Flouring-mill was erected in 1884, and opened in January, 1885. The full capacity of the mill is 200 barrels every twenty-four hours, in which about 1, 000 bushels of wheat are used; at present the mill is running about seven barrels an hour. The plant was designed by H. B. Shears, and he and Robert McAdoo and Noah Einsel are the owners of the mill.

Bowman Distillery, known as "No. 51" in the register, is located on the south terrace of the river, on the site of the old Wagner-Brickner Distillery. The product is seventy gallons of whisky per day.

Tiffin Woolen Mills Company was organized in May, 1867, with R. W. Shaw- han, S. B. Sneath, H. A. Buskirk, W. W. Armstrong, John G. Gross, A. Saffell, George W. Buskirk, J. M. Naylor. A. G. Sneath and W. C. Hedges, incorporators. The capital stock was $100,000-1.000 shares of $100 each. In February, 1872, the capital was increased to $150,000. The names of A. B. Hovey and C. C. Park appear among the directors. In 1880 the Tiffin Woolen Company leased the buildings and machinery, and carried on work until 1882. when the mills became the property of R. W. Shawhan. In October, 1883, the buildings and machinery were sold to the present owner, E. S. Rockwell, who built up a

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

reputation for the mills. The best material only is used in the woolen goods produced, the best modern machinery has been introduced, and skilled workmen, only, are employed in the higher branches of the manufacture. Mr. Rockwell is in partnership with his brother in woolen-mills at Dryden, N, Y., established in 1870. The industry at Tiffin gives employment to about 100 hands. The buildings and machinery are valued at $50,000.

(Constantine Woolen Mills Company was organized May 4, 1871, with J. Gilliland, James J. Hedges, Michael Scannell, Aaron Kreader, W. C. Hedges, John G. Gross and H. J. Crouse, members, to conduct the manufacture of woolen goods at Constantine, Mich.)

Whitlock Box Factory was established at Tiffin in 1883, by R. H. Whitlock. owner of the Richmond & Danville, Va., Tobacco Box Factories. The build- ings were completed in 1884, and since that time this industry has employed from thirty to forty men. One million feet of lumber, principally sycamore, are manufactured annually, but the capacity of the works is much larger. The material is prepared here, and shipped to his other factories to be put together. Franklin Harwood is manager at Tiffin, and representative of the owner in Ohio.

Tiffin Creamery, the latest addition to local manufacturing industry, was established in the fall of 1885, by A. Buskirk & Sons, on the Buskirk farm, south of Tiffin. It has a capacity of 1,500 pounds of butter per day, and the cream will be gathered from all parts of the county.

Thom & Reverts' Marble Works were consolidated with H. W. Yeager's works in March, 1885, when the two stocks were combined, and one of the most extensive marble monument establishments in the State formed.

The first dye-house at Tiffin was established about 1870, at the south end of Tiffin, by G. J. Rhorbacker. He carried on the business here for a few years, when he moved to Sandusky.

Tiffin Steam Dyeing Works were established by G. W. Rhorbacker in 1875. After three changes he moved to the present location on Water Street, in rear of the Noble Building, known as the Riverside Block.

National Machinery Company of Tiffin was organized and incorporated October 17, 1882. with the following named members: William R. Anderson, Perry M. Adams, W. P. Noble, James A. Blair, J. M. Naylor and J. W. Chamberlin. The works of this company front on South Greenfield Street, extending back to the railroads. The industry gives employment to a large number of skilled workmen.

Tiffin Tool Company was organized and incorporated September 30, 1882, with J. H. Frost, H. Jacobs, C. H. Muencher, J. J. Butts and John Jacobs, incorporators. for the purpose of manufacturing farm and garden implements and various machinery tools. The capital stock was placed at $50,000. This institution is more familiarly known as the Combination Tool Factory, or the Sandusky Hoe Company. They occupied the large building of Adams & Let- terhos on Market Street, continuing there until their new buildings in the Second Ward were completed.

Tiffin Manufacturing Company was organized November 27. 1874, with the following members: Jacob Schoeber, Levi Werrick, W. H. Gibson. W. H. Keil- holtz, Charles Geyer, Martin Wagner, Harrison Noble. George W. Bachman, C. J. Yingling and Lewis Seewald. The objects of the company were to estab- lish a sash, door and blind factory, and the manufacture of church furniture, and kindred goods.

Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Tiffin was incorporated May 7, 1881, with J. W. Love, H. J. Stolzenbach, Charles Ernest, John Ernest, D. K

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

Frederici, Frank Frederici, Peter Swope and Joseph Secrist, members. The object of the company was to carry on the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, moldings and furniture. The works have been well established and a large trade made.

School Furniture Manufacturing Company, organized a few years ago, is in successful operation.

Ohio Stove Company was incorporated April 28, 1879, with John M. Myers, Omar Wilson, Jacob Martin, Thomas J. Kintz and A. J. Brickner, members. The manufacture of stoves, hollow ware and castings was the ob- ject of organization. The industry to-day is one of the leading ones in this section of the State, and its location, near the Indiana, Bloomington & West- ern and the Baltimore & Ohio depots, is always the scene of busy manufac- turing life.

Excelsior Fork Company was organized January 11, 1867, for the manu- facture of pitchforks and hay-elevators. The Ohio Stove Works Com- pany was incorporated July, 1867. A company under the name " Tiffin Paper Mills," organized February 27, 1873, and another company-" Tiffin Paper Mill"-was incorporated the same day. In March, 1873, a company known as the "Ohio Stove Company" was organized; in May, 1873, the Ohio Shoe Fac- tory Company was incorporated, and in November, 1873, the Machine Works of Tiffin; December 1, 1873, the Tiffin Shoe Factory Company was organized; in May. 1874, the Ohio Ceramic Works Company was organized, and March 14, 1876, the Sovereign Co-operative Trade Company. In earlier years, between 1865 and 1867, the Ohio & West Virginia Petroleum and Mining Company, and the Tiffin Gold and Mining Company of Colorado were incorporated; and in November, 1868, the Young America Manufacturing Company of Dakota, and in 1872, the Tiffin Car Works. Again in October, 1883, the Tiffin Soap Com- pany was organized.

Tiffin Natural Gas Company was organized in July, 1885, with B. W. Wilson, J. J. Flick, J. W. Brown and M. F. Baldwin, members. In Septem- ber, 1885, J. E. Brownyar, of Bradford, Penn., came to Tiffin with a view of arranging with the company to begin work. From what has been written in the chapter on the geology of the county, there can exist little doubt regarding the success of the enterprise at Tiffin.

Tiffin Gas Light Company was organized in 1856, with Edward Gwynn and others, incorporators, Mr. Gwynn subscribing for 1,150 shares and R. G. Pen- nington and others for 50 shares of $25 each. An ordinance of the council gave the new company many privileges, and with the capital and those privileges they established their works on Rock Creek, near Perry Street bridge. In 1860 John Gwynn, a lawyer of Tiffin, purchased his brother's interests ; ten years after he sold the works to George E. Seney and the late John T. Huss, . and in 1875 Judge Seney became sole owner. The works are conducted by John M. Bate, on principles of economy which inure to the benefit of the con- sumer as well as the manufacturer, the former receiving a good light for the smallest possible consideration.

COAL YARDS.

The first coal yard established at Tiffin was that kept by Jacob Shriver in 1864 or 1865, near the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot. W. B. Stanley opened one near the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Depot. Lawson, Green- leaf and Buskirk followed in the ownership of the Shriver Yard. Stanley's Yard was purchased in 1882 by Dildine & Glick. A coal yard was established near the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot by Crooks & Blish, which is now owned by J. F. Zeller.

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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

HOTELS.

Erastus Bowe kept the first tavern at Fort Ball. Elisha Smith kept a tav. ern at Fort Ball for some years prior to 1826, and William Montgomery car- ried on one in 1826.

George Park erected a log-house on the south side of East Perry Street for purposes of a hotel or tavern, the first in the city. His next building, which stood on the site of the National Hall Block, was a two-story frame, in which Eli Norris carried on hotel business. John Staub was also interested for a time in this building as lessee.

Calvin Bradley's hotel, what is now Remele's meat market, was established as the Central House and purchased by R. Sneath in 1826. In 1832, Mr. Bradley leased the house from Sneath and changed the name to " Washington House."

The Western Exchange Hotel, south of the original town, was erected in 1836 by Calvin Bradley, and the building is still standing on South Washing- ton Street. This was also used as Bradley's stage station.

Joel Stone's tavern, as it existed in 1835, was a commodious, well-kept house.

John Goodin, who settled at Tiffin in 1828, erected the first brick hotel building on Lot 86 in 1832, and conducted it until the building was leased to T. J. McCleary. This house stood where Loser's confectionery store now is, and John Kriedler, H. Lease, Orrin Hart and others carried on hotel keeping in it for years. Goodin removed to Hardin County, where he was in- terested in his brother David's extensive business.

Feldnagel's Tavern stood near the old Sting Brewery. This was established about the fall of 1832.

In the fall of 1834, the Hoffman Tavern was opened, the first German tavern at Tiffin.

John Staub kept a tavern at the northwest corner of Market and Monroe Streets for some time. This building is still in existence.

Eli Norris' Tavern was a celebrated hostelry of olden times, and the pro- prietor one of the true pioneer tavern keepers.

Richard Sneath purchased the Central House, in 1826 or 1828, for $400 from Calvin Bradley, and entered hotel life.

The Shawhan House was erected by R. W. Shawhan in 1850, and opened by John Staub in December of that year. In 1854 French & Smith were pro- prietors.

In 1859 there were no less than seven hotels at Tiffin, namely, the American House, Davis House, Franklin House, Holt House, A. R. Van Dorn's and the Shawhan House. Since that time the Shawhan House has been transformed .into a modern hotel; the Lang House was erected on East Market Street, op- posite the court house, in 1874; the Empire House on South Washington Street was built, the Commercial on Market Street, and a number of smaller houses were added to the hotels of the city. The Zellers, now of Defiance, have been connected with the Shawhan House for many years. In May, 1SS5, John O. Plank sold the lease and furniture of this popular hotel to J. S. Mor- ris, superintendent of the Northwestern Ohio Railroad, whose son. Frederick P. Morris, is manager, with W. T. Zeller and William Eichert, clerks.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Telegraph, Telephone and Express Companies .- The first telegraph line was constructed in 1849, along the line of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. Since that time the Western Union and the Burlington & Ohio Telegraph Companies have opened offices here.

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

Tiffin Telephone Company was organized April 27, 1881, with the follow- ing named members: Omar Wilson, John M. Myers, A. J. Brickner, E. S. Myers and C. D. Sprague. Almost all the important business houses and offices of Tiffin are now connected by telephone, while outside towns and vil- lages are brought within speaking distance.

The various express companies are represented here.

Railroads. - The railroads entering Tiffin are the Baltimore & Ohio, the Indiana, Bloomington & Western, and the Northwestern Ohio, latter operated by the Pennsylvania Company with J. S. Morris, superintendent, all of which are referred to in Chapter XI.

Tiffin Water-works were established in 1878, under authority of a State charter and an ordinance of the city, granting the company the right to lay down water mains, and giving the exclusive right of water supply for twenty-five years. The system adopted is that known as the "Holly Direct Pressure System;" the works were constructed by S. L. Wiley & Company and were transferred to Tiffin Water-works Company, on completion and accept- ance by the city.

The pumps used are the Holly Quadruplex Pumping Engine. operated by water-power; capacity, 3,000,000 United States gallons in twenty-four hours. There is also a Knowles & McGowen pump operated by steam, combined capa- city of which is 3,000,000 United States gallons in twenty-four hours. The power is in duplicate by water and steam. Pumping station is located on the west bank of the Sandusky River, about one mile and a quarter southwest of city at the old Lugenbeel Flouring-mill.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088