USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 29
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The plant has grown from its start of 25 street lamps and 600 incandescents to its pres- cnt total of 80 street lamps and over 4,000 in- candescents and a continuous service day and right. A large number of electric motors are also in service, ranging in size from the I-20 H. P. motor for sewing machines to the 20
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H. P. motor for factory purposes. A central station heating plant has been put in operation in connection with the electric plant and for the past four years has been giving general satisfaction, a large por- tion of the business houses and many residences making use of the heat. The present demand indicates a great increase in both branches of the service. The present officers of the com- pany are: J. M. C. Marble, president ; John E. Marble, treasurer ; O. A. Balyeat, secretary ; and H. P. McDonald, manager. The president and secretary are residents of Los Angeles, California.
The Van Wert Home Telephone Company. -The wonderful telephone industry, which is so necessary to the modern method of doing business quickly, has had a history in Van Wert similar no doubt to that which it has had at other places.
Long ago the Bell Telephone Company on the application of a number of the leading business people established an exchange in Van Wert. This was under the management of George W. Beers, then a Van Wert boy, whose subsequent fame in that business has spread all over the United States. Telephone users were but few in number, the rate charged was $4 per month for business 'phones, and $3.50 per month for residence 'phones. The mere fact that so few then were willing to ac- cept service at that rate really made that few less desirable; and upon the demand of the Bell people that the number be increased to at least 50, it was found to be unable to comply with the demand, and the exchange was dis- continued.
Afterwards other efforts were made to in- duce the same people to come here, but not with success. It was supposed that the Bell people had a monopoly of the business, by rea- son of certain parts of the equipment that were
necessary, but finally it was discovered by some enterprising individuals that the magneto sys- tem could be used successfully for telephone service. On the solicitation of Mr. Beers, an independent plant was established in the then village of Van Wert. Hon. H. C. Glenn was elected the first president of the local company, and W. C. Lawrence, secretary.
Afterwards the litigation in the Supreme Court of the United States, instigated by Pres- ident Harrison, to determine whether the ex- clusive patents of the Bell Telephone Company on certain apparatus should be canceled, hav- ing been determined against the Bell Telephone Company, the form of telephone, the same as used by the Bell Telephone Company, was adopted and the independent movement became a great success.
In Van Wert, after the establishment of the exchange on the part of the independents, the Bell people made several efforts to establish a rival company and divide the subscribers, and have two systems in use instead of one; but in each instance the Bell people were defeated and the growth of the Van Wert Home Tele- phone Company was continuous and sometimes very rapid.
In 1904, at a very large expense, the home company installed, what is known as the Strow- ger automatic telephone system,-"the cussless, waitless, out-of-orderless, girl-less telephone," by means of which any subscriber can call up any other subscriber without the aid of the central office. There are but few places in the world where this system has been inaugurated, but here as elsewhere it has proven a great success, and the people of Van Wert are justi- fied in their boast that our city has one of the finest telephone systems in the world.
The present rates charged are: $1.25 per month for residence 'phones and $2.50 per month for business 'phones. All telephone
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users are connected with the one system, so that the evils of a divided telephone service is not known in this community. The present number of subscribers is over 1,300. The of- ficers of the company are: Hon. G. M. Saltz- gaber, president ; J. W. Longwell, secretary ; E. M. Leslie, treasurer ; and the board of directors consist of Hon. W. T. Hughes, Dr. R. J. Mor- gan, W. G. Edwards, and the president and secretary.
NATURAL GAS AND OIL.
Oil was discovered in Van Wert city al- though not in paying quantities; however, a large supply of gas was found. It was decided to abandon drilling for oil and drill for gas, which was found at a higher level. A company war formed and a number of wells put down that were reasonably good wells. Some of the best ones were abandoned when salt water came in. This was done for a purpose, as East- ern parties, who had been taken in and given a controlling interest, decided to pipe from the Mercer field. They gave as their reason for it. that if they developed a good field here and the people became dissatisfied they could organize another company in opposition, but to pipe from the Mercer field would be too expensive. After spending a large amount of money and the Mercer field having failed to supply a suffi- cient amount of pressure, a very expensive pumping station was put in, which also failed. In the end the company was compelled to fall back on the Van Wert field, which has supplied gas for the town for the last 10 or 15 years. After drilling for oil in Van Wert had ceased, a field was opened in the northeast part of York township and reaching over in Ridge township.
The Van Wert County oil field now ex- tends over the southern tier of townships and
also includes Ridge and a part of Washington townships. Oil has also been found in Pleas- ant, Union and Tully townships, but not in paying qualities.
THE BRUMBACK LIBRARY.
In 1890 the following ladies of Van Wert, realizing the great good to be derived from a public library, incorporated "The Van Wert Library Association": Mesdames Hattie L. Brotherton, Clara V. Cavett, Ann W. Clark, Frances O. Clark, Lucy Craig, George C. Glenn, Mary J. Hiestand, Mary Leeson, Eliz, abeth Malick, Isabelle Rose, Fannie H. Strad- ler and Eudora H. Troup. These ladies can- vassed the town for subscriptions and gave en- tertainments in aid of the project until the nucleus of a circulating library was formed.
Any person who contributed $3 each year was permitted to share in the use of the library. At the end of the first year, they had a collec- tion of 600 books, placed in charge of a libra- rian in a rented room. The library became gen- erally appreciated and through the efforts of the ladies, the Common Council of Van Wert in 1896 voted a tax of three-tenths of a mill in aid of the library, on which they realized about $575 annually.
This together with the money secured from the annual dues of patrons furnished a small sum upon which the library could be main- tained, but the purchase of books was neces- sarily very limited. The field for the work was, however, so much larger than the means wherewith to accomplish the work, and the fu- ture so dependent upon constant effort that the ladies, although justly proud of what had been done, might well feel apprehensive for the fu- ture when their personal efforts should cease. It was only too apparent that the enterprise might fail if not placed upon a firm and endur- ing foundation.
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It was at this stage that the will of John Sanford Brumback was made public, providing for the gift to the people of Van Wert County of a building in which to forever maintain a free public library, by the following chuse in the will : "It is my will and desire that my said dear wife and children expend sufficient of my estate willed to them in items one and two to carry out my wishes known to them by the erec- tion and gift of a library building, something after the plans and designs I have had pre- pared for that purpose, provided and this item is upon the express condition that my said wife and children can make arrangements satisfactory to them with the City of Van W'ert, or if they desire and think best, with Van Wert County, for a location for said building and the maintenance of the library to be placed therein."
Before going on to what has been accom- plished under this provision, let us take a cur- sory view of the life of the man who made possible the firm establishment of a Public Library in Van Wert County.
John Sanford Brumback was born on a farm in Licking County, Ohio, on the 4th of March, 1829, and died December 11, 1897. When he was four years of age, his father died, leaving his mother a legacy of six young children and 40 acres of undeveloped land with a log house upon it. This mother, like others of that day, set bravely to work to eke out a precarious livelihood. Unable to spare her only boy, John, from his work except in the winter season, his early education consisted of the crude instruction received in a country school during the few winters he was privi- leged to attend school at all. Quick to learn, he acquired even in this short time the rudi- ments of an education that, added to and round- ed out by a life-time of close observation and keen perception, made him a man of general
information and broad intelligence. As il- lustrative of his self-reliance and capability, his mother sent him at the early age of 10 to market where, with rare judgment, he disposed of the produce the family had to sell. The com- mercial instinct thus early aroused, he lett the farm and entered the grocery business at the age of 17.
The only capital he had was $50, which his mother had saved and which she willingly en- trusted to him. Later, while engaged in the dry goods business at Ashley, Ohio, he marrie l Ellen Pearline Purmont, May 26, 1852.
He afterwards sold his store and move on a farm between Delaware and Columbus. From there he went to Casey, Illinois, where he con- ducted a general merchandising and stock busi- ness. In 1862 he settled in Van Wert and for over 35 years his life was linked with the growth and history of the town and county. For many years he was engaged in the stave business, was proprietor of a well-known dry goods store and was one of the principal pro- moters of the Cincinnati, Van Wert & Michi- gan Railroad. In later years his interests cen- tered largely in the Van Wert National Bank and the Central Manufacturers' Mutual In- surance Company, of both of which he was president.
A man with a heart full of philanthropy could not die without remembering his fellow- men, if it could be accomplished in justice to his own family. So when he came to draw his will, openly, as he had lived, he called his fam- ily around him and freely expressed his thoughts. He said he had long felt like doing something for Van Wert and that he knew of no way in which so much good could come to his old friends and associates and their chil- dren, as through a Public Library. Even then in his will he caused the gift of a library build- ing to be optional with his heirs, but the unani-
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mity with which his wife and children carried out the wish expressed in his will bears testi- mony to the affection and veneration felt for the husband and father.
One thing to be especially noted in the will was the provision for a County Library. The suggestion was a noble conception full of great possibilities. Up to the date of this will, no thought apparently was ever directed to the es- tablishment of a county library. When it was first proposed to make the Brumback Library a county institution, many looked askance and could hardly believe it practicable. Of course the inauguration of a county library was not accomplished without much effort and many discouragements. When a bill was drawn by O. S. Brumback to be presented to the Legis- lature to permit the County Commissioners to bind the county to maintain a library by taxa- tion, it was realized that it could be passed only by. vigorous efforts in its behalf. When, how- ever, the farmers of Van Wert County as- sembled in their Granges and declared, after full discussion, almost unanimously in favor of such library, their action together with the assistance of leading citizens both in town and county caused the bill to become a law in April, 1898.
In August of the same year, the County Commissioners-H. H. Ludwig, Peter Knittle and H. G. Schumm-took the necessary action under the law to execute a tripartite agreement with the Ladies' Library Association and the heirs of J. S. Brumback, namely, Ellen P. Brumback, Orville S. Brumback, David L. Brumback, Estelle B. Reed and Saida M. Brumback (Antrim).
By the terms of the contract, the Ladies' Library Association turned over to the Brum- back Library all the books, some 1,600 in num- ber, belonging to the association; the county agreed to forever maintain the library by the
levy of an annual tax upon all taxable property of the county; and the Brumback heirs agreed to construct and furnish complete and ready for, use a stone building in one of the parks of the city of Van Wert.
How well the heirs fulfilled the terms of the contract, let the splendid building and furnish- ings-substantial, commodious and beautiful in every detail-speak.
Believing that the ladies would exercise a most beneficent influence in the management and work of the Brumback Library and to keep it out of political broils, it was also provided in the contract that the library should be man- aged by a non-partisan board of seven trus- tees, three to be appointed by the County Com- missioners, two by the Ladies' Library Associa- tion and two by the Brumback heirs. Their term of office is for three years and in case of failure to appoint, the City Council of Van Wert is to make the appointment. The first board of trustees, composed of the following members, J. M. Laudick, Thomas M. Thorpe, Joseph L. Tossey, Clara V. Cavett, Mary J. Hiestand, Saida B. Antrim and John P. Reed, entered upon the discharge of its duties June 2, 1899.
The ceremony of the laying of the corner- stone occurred July 18, 1899, and was observed in a most fitting manner.
The first day of the new century, January I, 1901, ushered in the day of dedication of the library. The building was presented by the Brumback heirs and accepted by the county with appropriate exercises, followed by a re- ception held at the library in the evening.
On January 29, 1901, the library opened its doors to the public with about 5,000 books on its shelves in charge of Miss Ella L. Smith, librarian. And now in this the sixth year of its existence, the present librarian, Miss Jane Brotherton, reports 10,698 books and a circu-
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lation of 50,000 volumes annually and branch libraries established at 16 different points throughout the county by which books are made accessible to every one however remote from the central library ..
As a county library, the Brumback Library has attracted much attention and the promi- nence which Van Wert County has received and will continue to receive as the pioneer in such a work, cannot but be a proud distinction and of great benefit to all of her people.
THE GLEASON FAMILY.
Probably the earliest mention of the Glea- son family of America, traceable, is found in the records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where, in 1657, lived Thomas Gleason, who emigrated to America from New Castle, Eng- land, the family having originated in the North of Ireland. There is a family legend relating that the first emigrants of the name to come to America were three brothers, who settled in New England, during the colonial period, and were the original stock from which the Amer- ican family sprung, which gradually spread to adjacent States, until now its descendants are to be found in every Northern State, and doubt- less in many Southern States also.
Bezaleel Gleason, the great-grandfather of Andrew J. Gleason, to whom we are indebted for the data of this memoir, is the most remote ancestor known of, in a direct line. He lived near Brattleboro, Vermont, and is said to have taken part with General Stark's "Green Moun- tain Boys", in the battle of Bennington. He was probably a descendant of the Thomas Glea- son above-mentioned. His wife was Phoebe Newberry. Their family consisted of six sons and three daughters, named as follows : Adoni- jah, Amos, Nathan and Nahum (twins), Ira, Bezaleel, Sarah, Phoebe and Clarissa. Adoni-
jah, who was a Baptist prencher, lived at Sem- pronius, New York, for a time and then re- moved to Switzerland County, Indiana ; at last accounts he was in Minnesota, where he prob- ably died. To him and his wife Cynthia were born three sons-Justus, Parsons and Elias, of whom the last named lived in Cincinnati dur- ing the '50's. Amos, the second son, lived at Caledonia Springs, New York ; Sarah ( Fisher) also lived in New York State on the St. Law- rence River, while the rest of the family, ex- cept Bezaleel (second), continued to reside in Vermont when last heard of. It was while journeying across the mountains on his return from visiting some of his children, that the aged patriarch was overtaken by a tragic fate. becoming bewildered in a mountain storm, caus- ing him to lose his way and to perish in the cold.
Bezaleel Gleason, grandfather of Andrew J. Gleason, settled in Ontario County, New York, near where the town of Shortsville now stands. He was a farmer, and a man noted for great muscular strength. He married Abigail How- land, by whom he had three sons and five daughters, viz .: Stephen, Joseph, Sarah, Phoebe, Clarissa, Mary, Eliza and Benjamin. After his death, which occurred June 21, 1832, his widow resided on the family homestead for some years, then, gathering together her family (except Sarah and Phoebe who had previously married), her two eldest sons piloting the way, she removed, in the summer of 1837, to the un- broken wilds of Van Wert County, Ohio, tak- ing up lands in the southwestern part of Pleas- ant township, where she resided until her death, which took place August 29, 1851, having seen the most of her children settled around her, and enjoyed the affectionate care of both children and grandchildren.
Stephen Gleason, the eldest son of Bezaleel Gleason (second), was born in Ontario Coun-
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ty. New York, July 24, 1801. He married Amanda Fletcher, by whom he had eight chil- dren, viz. : Emily (Evers), Sarah J. (Royce). Mary A. (Evers), Lucy O. (Albright). Charles F., George H., Louisa (Kiser), and Oliver B., four of whom are living, viz. : Mrs. Sarah J. Royce, of Columbia City, Indiana ; Charles F. Gleason and Mrs. J. W. Kiser, of Dull. Ohio; and Oliver B. Gleason, of Van Wert. For several years after his marriage, Stephen Gleason followed the occupation of a farmer, residing, a part of the time, at a place called Oak Orchard. New York; but, being enticed by the flattering reports from the new country in Western Ohio, after first, with his brother Joseph, having prospected and selected a location, he sold his property in New York State, and at the head of the family colony. with wife and five children, he turned his back on a comparatively comfortable home to face hardships and privations he little dreamed of. At one time he was left in charge of the whole colony, while his brothers, with all the avail- able teams, proceeded to a point on the Mau- mee River, whither a portion of the household goods had been shipped by water, a trip requir- ing some weeks in the bad condition of the roads. During all this time Stephen was con- stantly employed carrying grists of corn to and from a hand-mill, some four or five miles dis- tant, to keep up a supply of breadstuff. Yet indomitable pluck carried him through these and similar-hardships until he had made for himself and family a comfortable home again.
Mr. Gleason lived on his farm, which he and his sons brought into a high state of cul- tivation, until about 1867, having been several times elected county commissioner, and after- ward county treasurer, which offices he held with much credit to himself and to the satis- faction of the public. Upon retiring from the office of treasurer, he resumed his farm life,
but, receiving a fair offer for his farm, sold it to Robert Wade, and removed to Van Wert. Here, however, he remained only long enough to enable him to purchase another farm near South Whitley, Indiana, to which he soon after removed. Losing his faithful wife in 1871, he soon gave up farming, spending his time with his children up to the time of his death, June 21, 1883, the 51st anniversary of his father's death. Both his and his wife's remains were brought to Van Wert and interred in the fam- ily lot in the old Van Wert Cemetery.
In politics Stephen Gleason was a Demo- crat, and, being of an argumentative disposi- tion, was always ready for a tilt with a politi- cal opponent. His religious belief was Uni- versalism, although never having any affilia- tion with that church. As a citizen few were looked up to for counsel and advice more than he, and while in or out of public office his best efforts for the promotion of the county's wel- fare were given without stint, and many sub- stantial improvements in the county will per- petuate the memory of Stephen Gleason.
Joseph Gleason, father of Andrew J. Glea- son, was born in Manchester township, Ontario County, New York, September 3, 1803, and, with his brother and sisters, was given a fair common-school education, which qualified him to teach the district school. It was while en- gaged in teaching he became acquainted with Harriet Brown, who was at that time a pupil in his school, the acquaintance ripening into attachment destined to be life-long. and which resulted in their marriage, February 10, 1828. After his marriage, he continued to reside near the place of his birth, following in turn the oc- cupations of teacher, farmer and lumberman, until the year 1837, when with his wife and three children he joined the little colony then about to try the many vicissitudes of emigra- tion to this then unsettled region. Entering
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160 acres of land where Pott's Corners are now, he devoted his time for the next two years to clearing and improving a farm. Having been elected county recorder, he removed to Van Wert in the autumn of 1839, purchasing a log tavern near the northeast corner of Main and Jefferson streets, afterward replaced by him with a two-story frame building, known for many years as the American House. Being quite popular with the new settlers, official hon- ors rather crowded upon him, as he at one time held the office of county recorder, associate judge and justice of the peace, being elected judge for one term. He held the office of jus- tice of the peace for many years, and in the nu- merous pettifogged cases that came up to his court Squire Gleason's rulings were rarely known to be set aside. After remaining in this diversified employment some 15 years, he leased his hotel property to John W. Conn, and, his term of office as county recorder having ex- pired, formed a partnership with Thomas R. Kear. They erected the first steam sawmill built in the county, on the ground where Will- iam A. Clark's flouring-mill was formerly lo- cated. After operating this mill about a year, he sold out to his partner, taking a lease of the property for three years as a part of the consideration. At the expiration of the lease, with his brother Stephen as a partner he built what is now the Gleason Lumber Company's mill, of which he afterward became sole owner, operating it with little help, except that of his four sons, for a number of years, its products contributing largely toward the improvement of the town and surrounding country. In the meantime, having sold the hotel property and become possessed of several farms in embryo in the near vicinity of Van Wert, he gradually withdrew from the lumber business (which thereafter was conducted by his two younges- sons) and devoted his entire time to improving
his farms, and looking after other real estate interests. During the centennial year, Mr. and Mrs. Gleason visited the Philadelphia World's Fair, after which they made a tour of the scenes of their childhood in Connecticut and New York, a journey long anticipated and greatly enjoyed. They found as a matter of course, but few still living in the old neighbor- hoods whom they had known in earlier years, yet this visit was something to recall and live over again until the end of life.
It was with much satisfaction that Joseph Gleason saw nearly all of his children settle around the old home (his eldest daughter hav- ing removed to Michigan), and all were often together enjoying happy reunions under the parental roof. He was father of nine children, . two of whom (a boy and a girl) died in in- fancy, seven growing to man's and woman's estate as follows: Mrs. Mariette L. Strother, of Algodon, Michigan; Julius A., Andrew J., Abram B. and Francis J., and Mrs. Julia A, Carper; and Ella A. Carper, of Van Wert, who died April 4, 1896.
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