USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
Nearby the entrance to the park from the south and north of the office the Isle of Nippon gardens captivate the eye. Here around a little lake and on several islands of that lake Mr. Wagner has caused to be planted and made a real Japanese garden with only flowers from the fair Isle of Nippon. The waters of the lake are clear and placid. Rustic bridges span the space to the islands. At the entrance a Japanese gate of logs has been erected and bears a small placard with the legend "Nippon."
For Sidney and Sidney people Mr. Wagner has been very considerate in building the beautiful Wagner park with its shaded drives following the natural contour of the woods, its pretty little lakes and novel gardens in which are planted wonders of nature from .everywhere. Here Sidney people are privileged to hold picnics and reunions and enjoy the beauties of the park place. Here are wonderful stretches of stately old flowers our grandmothers loved grown in marvelous perfection. Here are scores of admirable if less well known horticultural beauties, rescued from obscurity by botanical expert- ness and presented to the modern hardy garden : myriad groups of shrubs in superb condition, deciduous, decorative, useful ; unusual and effective conbina- tions ; long avenues of fine native trees ; plantations of many interesting speci- mens that you may not know-such is the language of the florist in the Wagner park catalogue in describing the beauties of the park.
Probably the one section of the Wagner business that is best known is his landscape gardening. The Wagner's landscape service has become known the world over. This department is conducted under the personal supervision of B. P. Wagner assisted by a corps of able landscape artists, who have not only been thoroughly trained in the theory of every branch of this profession but have had a number of years of practical experience on the park grounds and are perfectly familiar with the "Wagner" methods of landscaping which have met with such universal success and given satisfaction and pleasure to thon- sands of patrons throughout the United States and foreign countries.
184
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
In the catalogue published by the nurseries the following description of the Wagner idea of gardening is taken :
"By the Wagner method of landscaping, lawn, garden and wooded ground are treated in a pictorial way, mainly with large effects. Lesser incidents, flower borders and masses, specimen shrubs, etc., are introduced in such a way as to add to the repose and simplicity of the whole. Harmony of color is especially studied. Unsightly outlooks are obliterated. Privacy is created. 'Vistas' are formed where existed monotony of outlook and illusions are manu- ·factured by art, working on the principle of nature.
"The dominant feature in landscape beauty is an unbroken lawn space. All the better if it passes around the sides of the house. Beyond the green stretch of perfect turf are groups or formal planting of fine trees, with here and there -- placed exactly at that point for some sound artistic reason-clumps of shrubbery adding their varying heights to the picturesque irregularity of the planting line. Across a shaded lawn also what a picture is formed by the brilliant undulation of hardy perennials grown in borders, a drift of bulb- blossoms, or a glorious mass of single flower-color! The arrangements of all these features make or mar the aspect of a place."
The landscape department does an extensive business in planning and laying out private and public grounds. The principles characterize the Wag- ner idea: First, keep the center of the lawn open; second, plant in masses; third, avoid straight lines.
In the literature published for the company appear many cuts of the homes of prominent Sidney people who have employed the services of the Wagner architects to plan and plant their grounds. Private grounds are pictured located all over the United States where the Wagner artists have done good work for a beautiful America.
The Wagner park nurseries have been the birthplace of many new species or varieties of flowers and shrubs which have been grown by selection years have been devoted to the cultivation and manufacture of a species to delight some fancier. The Wagner park new phlox varieties and the novelty roses, President Taft, Madam Taft, Jean D'Arc and others are some of the culti- vations made and originated here.
In addition to his contributions to the flower world Mr. Wagner and his able assistant publish Landscape and Garden, a periodical which tells of how to make the home beautiful, a distinct contribution to the literature of flowers.
The Miami Valley Gas & Fuel Company was originally incorporated by outside parties, as The Mercer Gas & Fuel Company, Calvin S. Brice, of Lima, O., and William P. Orr, of Piqua, being the chief promoters, and Mr. Orr the first president of the company. No stock was taken in Sidney. The system went into operation July 1, 1888. About four years later the supply of gas gave out and the company then extended its pipe lines to Red Key, Indiana, at which time a pumping station was put in. The new supply lasted about four or five years, at the end of which time the pipe was dug up and taken to the Sugar Grove field, in Fairfield county, O. (known as the Lancaster field), from which gas has been obtained up to the present
185
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
time. The pumping station was also removed to Sugar Grove. Durng the past six years an additional supply has been obtained from the Pan Handle field, in West Virginia. The old field in Mercer county was sold to the corporation of Minster and they now get some gas from it, it not being entirely exhausted. The company now supplies Sidney only, the gas being used for heating purposes, factory power, and to some extent for illumina- tion. The present officers of the company are in part: Frank E. Randall, of New York, president; F. L. Chase, of Columbus, O., secretary and treas- urer. The local agent is A. L. Marshall, who has held this position for the past 20 years, he having served five years previously as assistant to Frank Hunter, the former agent.
The Sidney Electric Light Company is an offshot of the Sidney Gas Light & Coke Company, established in 1872. About 1886 certain persons who were interested in the gas company organized the electric light com- pany, which had the same stockholders-D. W. Pampel, W. P. Metcalf, Judge Hugh Thomson, Jacob Piper, Sr., and J. C. Royon. An arc-light sys- tem was soon installed and went into operation for the lighting of the streets, stores and public buildings. About ten years later the arc-light sys- tem was supplemented and in part superseded by incandescent lights, which were introduced into private dwelllings. A few years after the organization of the Miami Gas & Fuel Company in the interests of the Electric Light Company were transferred to the latter and the two systems were com- bined under one administration, Mr. Pampel and Mr. Metcalf being then the controlling stockholders. About ten years ago the artificial mains for conveying coal gas were abandoned and natural gas was adopted. A. L. Marshall is local agent for the company.
The Sidney Telephone Company was organized in 1899, the articles of incorporation being filed February 13th of that year, and the franchise granted on the same date. The company was capitalized at $30,000, the in- corporators being L. M. Studevant, I. H. Thedieck, W. H. Wagner and Frank Crissman. At that time a company using the Bell system was oper- ating here and until about three years ago the two companies were in com- petition, when the Sidney Telephone bought out the interests of its rival and came into full control. During the summer of 1910 a complete new central office equipment was installed, known as the central energy system, and of Western Electric Company's make. In 1905 C. R. Bleakney became manager, at which time the company had 780 phones. The number of phones at the present time (January 1, 1913) is 1,575, in Sidney, with Anna and Ft. Loramie exchanges. W. H. Wagner is president of the com- pany; I. H. Thedieck, vice president ; A. J. Hess, secretary, and L. M. Stude- vant, treasurer. Five men are employed, four of them on outside work.
The Farmers Telephone Company was incorporated April 16, 1910, for the purpose of constructing and purchasing telephone lines, or both, and doing a general telephone business in Shelby and adjoining counties. It was capitalized at $24,000, by J. H. Millhouse, Charles F. Snyder, John C. Ward, Oliver C. Steley, Elva N. Middleton, James M. Baker and George L. Mar-
186
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
tin. The company now has about 700 phones in Sidney and the vicinity, the system being up-to-date, and the prospects are good for future business. The present officers of the company are as follows: R. J. DeWeese, presi- dent; J. H. Millhouse, vice president; Charles F. Snyder, secretary ; T. M. Beamer, treasurer, and C. C. Hermetet, manager. The directors are R. J. DeWeese, G. L. Martin, P. A. Howell. W. F. Valentine, Sherman Cain, J. W. Harp, R. M. Yinger, M. K. Coon and Orin C. Staley.
I have seen gas "works installed in Sidney, the electric light plant, the Holly system of water works across the river which did service for some fifteen years, the new water works built up the canal, which pumped river water into the mains for some time but which was supplanted by pure crystal water from artesian wells from the rock between one hundred and two hun- dred below the surface and which is Sidney's special pride. All the old churches have been demolished since the sixties and ten or more beautiful structures erected, and a modern courthouse built in the delightfully shaded park of nearly three acres in the center of the city; a magnificent $60,000 monumental structure, several miles of street paving, the city's sidewalks all paved with Berea ore or concrete, and a fire department so alert and well equipped that conflagrations for years have been nipped in the head. A one hundred thousand dollar high school nearly completed, where once was the Presbyterian graveyard, a building site purchased by the government for the next postoffice, and the location secured on South street, formerly the Mount Vernon African Baptist church, for an armory to be built by the state.
A row of elins, years ago, of more than a mile in length, was planted on the berme bank of the canal, the roots of which, extending to the water, pro- mote a most luxurious growth which in time will be magnificent.
The C. H. & D. Railway gives the city and the contiguous region a much desired outlet to the south. The C. C. C. & St. L. places Sidney in communication with the east and west and an electric trolley line of two hundred miles in length connecting Cincinnati with Toledo, with lateral branches east and west passes through Sidney with its cars at frequent in- tervals. The beautiful parks at the C. H. & D. and Big Four stations displays exquisite taste, the latter the result of ceaseless efforts on the part of our fellow townsman, William Shine. The tender consideration of the poverty stricken and unfortunate is seen in the beautiful surroundings of the infirmary with the commodious apartments for their care and comfort while the Children's Home for orphan waifs is charming in every feature. The aesthetic taste dispalyed in the selection of the site and the beautifying of the environments, the wholesome instructor in manners and manual training, as well as books and the varied landscape of indescribable charms can not fail to make indelible impressions for good upon their children's plastic minds.
Aesthetic taste received an impulse from the beautiful Wagner conservatory which has achieved a national reputation and from the efforts of the Com- mercial club, which is ceaseless in its endeavors to make Sidney one of the prettiest gems in the incomparable Miami valley.
MENTOTS POLDER CO.
T
VIEW AT FT. LORAMIE, McLEAN TOWNSHIP
MENTGES FOLDER CO.
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, FT. LORAMIE, O.
N. MAIN ST., NEWPORT, O.
187
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
I have seen Sidney grow from a village of two thousand to a city of seven thousand, not a phenominal growth but a healthy one. Thirty years ago we were entirely an agricultural community. Gradually a change has been wrought in the character of our industries until we have become quite an important manufacturing city with varied products which find a ready sale in all markets of the civilized world. We now have about forty man- ufacturing plants with invested capital of more than two millions which give employment to nearly fifteen hundred people. These industries bring to Sidney about $3,000,000 annually, and about one-fifth of the entire receipts is paid for wages yearly.
Some idea of the growth of the city and her resources may be had by a comparison of her financial institutions with those of thirty years ago. There were then two banks with a capital and surplus of about $20,000 and deposits of about $350,000. Now we have four financial institutions with capital and surplus of more than 500,000 and deposits of about $3,000.000. This does not mean the wealth of the community for there are large sums invested in bonds and mortgages that do not appear in the operations or statements of the financial institutions.
CHAPTER VIII MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE
Sketches of the Principal Manufacturing Industries of Sidney .*
WAGNER HOLLOW-WARE COMPANY
Three quarters of a century or more ago several stalwart Germans, brothers and sisters, emigrated from the fatherland and settled in this part of Ohio. Large, dark and swarthy, they were all splendid physical specimens and being full of pluck and energy they were such people for whom a new country calls to subdue the stubborn features of nature, make them blossom as the rose and achieve a lofty destiny. They all rolled up their sleeves and with a deter- mination that knew no such word as fail, encountered their life work.
The branch of the family with which this article has to deal is that of the scions of Mathias Wagner, one of the brothers. He was a strong, powerful man with a rare fund of common sense and unbounded ambition. At first he worked a while on the Miami and Erie canal, then being built, but did not continue long at the tedious and not very lucrative work, for, as soon as he had accumulated enough to buy an outfit, he commenced killing beeves and hogs in sufficient numbers to supply meat to the laborers and their families. This proved a fortunate venture and with his gains he bought property, which was cheap in and around Sidney, never selling any real estate but holding on until he became Sidney's wealthiest citizen. He continued to butcher and sell meat as long as his age and health would permit.
In the meantime he married Miss Mary Rauth, vigorous, large and strong, who seconded every effort of her energetic husband giving him sound advice, for she had sterling business acumen and was a helpmeet in every particular. Twelve children, of whom eight are living, were born in their household and were reared with the utmost care and educated. It was an ideal home, where happiness flavored the atmosphere. In time, Mr. Wagner passed away, but the large estate was not divided among the children and is intact to this day. Mrs. Wagner died only a few years ago and as long as she lived was the head of the vast interests.
Perfect harmony existed among the children, for there was no black sheep in the flock and today they work together like parts of a flawless machine. It
: For industries located outside of Sidney see Townships.
188
189
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
is of the business of the Wagner brothers, consisting of William, Milton, Bernard and Louis, that this article is written.
For many years the Sidney people have been justly proud of the factory on the fair ground hill but few have known that here is made a great part of the hollow-ware used in the world and that from this factory is shipped daily goods to all parts of the civilized globe.
To just view the Wagner plant from the outside is scarcely sufficient to give an accurate impression of its immensity and up-to-dateness. A trip through the shop several times only reveals new wonders in manufacturing science and to the one new to the factory such a trip serves to rather bewilder with its extent and the various processes and numerous kinds of goods made.
Just finished is the extensive addition made this year to the factory to accommodate the increasing business of the firm. The office has been extended and enlarged. The second story newly built adds to the storage rooms for hollow-ware. The polishing department has been greatly enlarged and new store rooms for the factory supplies have been added. The cost of these improvements has been very great and when one realizes that since the founding of the plant in 1881 that only two years have passed in which addi- tions have not been made the growth of the plant is of far more significance.
In 1881 the Wagner brothers founded this plant for the manufacture of hollow-ware on the hill next the C. H. & D. railway where shipping facilities were good. The shop was small then and only two buildings were built. Only twenty men were employed. R. O. Bingham, the present superintendent, was the manager in charge and built the factory on lines of his own design. He had been a moulder and practical machinist by trade and had spent some time as superintendent of foundries. The start was small but the growth has been rapid. In the thirty-one years of its existence the Wagner Manufacturing Company has increased its capacity twenty-nine times allowing only two years to pass in which improvements and enlargements have not been made to accommodate their ever-increasing business. Their original superintendent has been with them continually since the founding of the plant and with him have remained in their employ several men who started to work when the shop was founded.
The office of the factory has been made and remade several times but the complete refitting and remodeling this time will make it the largest it has ever been and thoroughly up to the time. Eight rooms and a hall comprise the working rooms of the business end of the plant. Upon entering, the large and commodious general offices are seen. A separate room opens from this room which will be used as a stenographer's room where all the typewriting will be done. Adjoining this will be the private office of the purchasing agent of the factory and last on that side of the hall is the private office of the president of the company. Another private office adjoins this to the rear. These private offices are specially constructed for the purpose. The office supply room opens off the hall to the rear and here also 'the secretary of the company has his office. A long hall connects all these rooms.
In the same building fronting on Fair avenue in which the office section
190
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
forms but a small part are the ware rooms of the factory in which are kept the finished products. On the first floor the heavy iron goods are stored ready for shipment. On the second floor the gray iron hollow-ware is kept. Here also is located the large shipping department of the factory. In the packing room several men are constantly employed packing the goods ready for loading on the box cars. Three inspectors go over the products before they are packed and see that no imperfect pieces are sent out of the factory. Here the pieces are also counted, billed and loaded. On the third floor is placed the cleaning room for aluminum. Here is kept the aluminum products ready for packing and shipment. The entire size of this building is one hundred and forty feet long by thirty feet wide and is three story brick. A heavy freight elevator connects the three floors.
The second building is two hundred and ten feet long by ninety-six wide and three stories. In this is located the finishing department for the entire factory and is connected by overhead bridges with the warehouses and offices.
On the first floor on this building in one large room the grinding room is situated. Here the rough hollow-ware is ground and edged, before the polishing is commenced. In another section of the first floor the store rooms for the factory are located. Here handles for waffle irons and other supplies for the use of the workmen will be kept when the new addition is completed.
The engine room occupies a large section of the first floor through the center of the shop. In the first room is located the old steam plant with its battery of boilers and one hundred and forty horse power engine which is used only to run the aluminum polishing department on the third floor and to operate the blasts for the cupolas. The large two hundred horse power tandem gas engine is placed in another larger engine room connecting with the steam room. This engine furnishes power for the rest of the plant. 'A smaller gas engine is required to crank and start this engine. Two engineers are in charge of the engine rooms who are experts in their departments.
The second floor of the finishing building is devoted to polishing of iron goods. The nickel-plating rooms and the present pattern and machine shop are located in separate rooms in the east end of this floor. The present store room for the factory and the carpenter shop is in this large room.
In the new addition will be placed a large machine shop where expert machinists will be constantly at work under the supervision of the superin- tendent constructing the special machinery used in the manufacture of high grade hollow-ware. At the far southwest end of this room the pattern room will later be moved and the superintendent will have his office for the direc- tion of the work in the shop. The machine shop will be 66 x 46, the pattern room 18 x 30 and the superintendent's office 14 x 18.
In the office of the superintendent may be noticed the following motto which expresses the spirit of the man and the idea on which the shop is run, "Life without industry is guilt, industry without art is brutality." Leaving the second floor the aluminum finishing department on the third floor is visited. Here the aluminum is taken from the foundry and ground and pol- ished in preparation for shipment to the merchants. In the new section of
191
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the aluminum polishing department twenty new polishing machines will be run by individual motors each of five horse power. A powerful fan system sucks all the dust from the grinding rooms and polishing rooms into a large tower where it is collected and disposed of. Five fans are required to do this work.
Returning to the first floor visitors are shown the large milling rooms in which thirty-two milling machines commonly known as rattlers break the rough edges off the product as it comes from the foundry and before it is taken to the finishing department.
In another room opening off the gas engine room is placed a large five hundred light dynamo which furnishes light for the factory.
The blacksmith shop must not be neglected. This is at present a very small affair located back of the warehouse. Later a larger shop 20 x 30 will be constructed for this department.
The foundry is the next place of interest. Here eighty-three moulders are at work and here every afternoon as the last thing of the day the pouring off is done. The aluminum foundry is located at the extreme west end of this building and is separated by a high partition. The aluminum process is secret and so no one was allowed to visit this part of the shop. The foundry building is 110 x 450 feet in size and is well lighted. Job work for various factories about town is also done here.
The cupola room is located in the extreme east end of the foundry depart- ment. Here two cupolas are placed. The smaller is used only in emergencies, having outlived its present usefulness. Its capacity is eight tons. The big twenty ton cupola is now used daily to melt up the iron used in moulding. Three different kinds of pigs are used to secure the proper composition. The fire lighted the blast will melt the iron ready for pouring off in two hours. Five men are required to operate this cupola.
The iron mine so called is next visited. In a deep hollow which has been scooped out from the cinders reclaimed by this process is located a small frame shed in which an electric cinder mill daily reclaims a great quantity of iron from the cinders which have been dumped here in the past years as refuse. This has only been in operation in the past few years and more than pays for itself. Another cinder mill reclaims the iron from the cinders each day that are dumped from the cupola. After the iron has been reclaimed the waste product is dumped as before. This reclamation process has only been recently discovered and in this one place alone reclaims about four dollars worth of iron daily. This is only one of the many methods used in this big shop to cut down the cost of production and utilize the waste products through scientific management.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.