History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 52

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 52
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 52

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).

Opera House.

This building was erected in 1874 by T. S. Gilliland. The first floor is occupied as business rooms, and the second to some extent by offices, which reduces the size of the hall. Still it is pleasantly located, and well adapted for amateur performances.

Woodland Cemetery.

The cemetery is located about eighty rods west of the corporation line. The grounds were purchased in 1974 by the trustees of the town and township for joint use as a burialground, and contain 100 acres. Great taste has been displayed in laying out the naturally beautiful grounds, which are beautified by shrubbery of different varieties artisti- cally arranged.

Patrons' Warehouse, Van Wert.

This association was incorporated April 10, 1875. The charter was granted to P. M. Dix, Abraham Balyeat. A. 1. Bronson, Smith Miller, A. Mentser, Samuel Collins, John Collins, Ira Cavett, J. K. Cooper, Joseph Custer, James Montgomery, L. B. Shaffer, H. C. Williams, O. Koogle, M. L. Brewer, Edwin Smith, Hugh Gilliland, N. Hattery, A. R. Merrick, and Abijah Goodwin.

1875. First directors were P. M. Dix, Samuel Collins, N. Hattery, A. Mentser, O. Koogle, E. Smith, and Abijah Goodwin, who organized by electing P. M. Dix, President; Samuel Collins, Treasurer ; and O. Koogle, Secretary.

1876. All the directors and officers were re-elected.

1877. A. A. Bronson, A. Balyeat, H. C. Williams, Joseph Custer, James Side, O. Koogle, and A. R. Merrick. A. Balycat, President; A. A. Bronson, Treasurer; A. R. Merrick, Secretary.

1878. P. A. Dix, Samuel Arnold, H. C. Williams, A. A. Bronson, S. C. Duff, Joseph Uster, and A. R. Merrick. P. M. Dix. President ; A. A. Bronson, Treasurer; A. R. Merrick, Secretary.

1879. F. T. Gilliland, H. C. Williams, A. Mentzer, Joseph Crook, Smith Miller, S. Arnold, and A. Merrick. F. T. Gilliland, President ; H. C. Williams, Treasurer ; A. R. Merrick, Secretary.

1880. The board reduced to five directors: P. M Dix, Jos. Crooks, Rufus Dufrey, H. F. Jones, and A. R. Merrick. P. M. Dix, President ; A. R. Merrick. Treasurer and Secretary.

The elevator is located on loty 1, 2, and 3, corner of Cherry and Jack- son streets. The main building is 34 by 60 feet, with an L of 20 by 40 feet and an engine-room ly by 20 feet, and is expected to carry 60,000 bushels of grain, and can elevate from 900 to 1000 bushels per hour. Grain is removed to any part of the building with elevators and convey- ers, and without handling it.

The building and improvements cost $12,000. It is managed and worked by the superintendent, A. R. Merrick, who is also treasurer, sec- retary, and engineer.

DUNATHAN & HUMPHREYS,

wholesale and retail dealers in groceries, flour, queensware, glassware, etc., at Nos. 51 and 53 Main Street. This firm commenced business at No. 5, in the MeCurdy block, Main Street, Feb. 1874. In the spring of 1878 they removed to their present location. Their storeroom is 40 hy 70 feet ; their adjoining room is 30 by 10 feet ; and about one-fourth the upstairs, which is used as a wareroom. They are also agents for all kinds of agricultural indements.

THE TIGHT BARREL STAVE AND HEADING FACTORY.

These works are located near the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, between Cherry and Walnut streets. They were established in Aug. 1565, by Messrs. Butler & Meredith, and operated on a small scale, the machinery being run by horse-power for a few months.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Meredith sold his interest in the factory to J. R. Brumback. The firm then purchased an engine and commenced operating their machinery by steam, and erected suitable buildings, in which they have been conducting the business of manufacturing staves and heading for tight barrels.

In 1>70 they received as a partner J. K. Scott, of Van Wert, and the business has been conducted by H. Butler, J. R. Brumback, and J. K. Scott, under the name of II. Butler & Co. However, H. Butler is the manager of the business, who by energy and perseverance has made it a success. Their capacity is now sufficient to manufacture 8000 staves and 4000 headings per day. They are enlarging their works, and attach- ing machinery for cutting and making slack barrel staves. They will soon have the capacity to use thirty cords of staves and heading per day.

PATTERSON & HALFHILL,

wholesale and retail dealers in groceries, queensware, glassware, etc., at No. 7 East Main Street. Mr. Patterson, senior member of the firm, engaged in the retail trade in 1873 in company with Mr. Tucker, as successor to Mr. Webber, former partner of Mr. Tucker. The firm name then became Tucker & Patterson, who continued in the business on the corner of Main and Shannon streets until Nov. 1875.

Mr. Tucker sold his interest to Mr. A. P. Halfhill, and the firm name was changed to Patterson & Halfhill. They remained at the old stand until Dec. 1875, when their business-room was destroyed by fire. They changed their location to No. 12 Main Street, and carried on their busi- ness until the spring of 1878, when they removed to their present loca- tion. They occupy a room 22 by >0 feet as their salesroom, and a wareroom 18 by 50 feet. They are extensive shippers of butter, eggs, etc.

In 1880 they commenced wholesaling groceries in connection with their retail trade, and have been eminently successful.

STRACK & PATTERSON,

manufacturers and dealers in all kinds of hard-wood lumber, near the C. V. W. and M. Railroad. on Shannon Street.

In 1871 there was a flax-mill erected on the ground where the saw mill now stands, by the Patterson Brothers & Co., and was operated under that name until 1872, when Mr. L. Patterson purchased his brother's in- terest, which made him owner of one half of the mill. The name of the firm was then changed to " The Van Wert Flax Company," and managed by Mr. I .. Patterson, who operated it successfully, until all the buildings, except the boiler-house, were destroyed by fire in 1877, at which time all operations of the flax-mill ceased.

Mr. Patterson then purchased his partners' interest in the engine and boiler-rooms and formed a partnership with Mr. E. W. Strack-the firm name being Strack & Patterson. They erected a saw-mill for the man- ufacture of all kinds of hard-wood lumber, which has been successfully operated. They purchase logs by the million, which are shipped to them by the railroad or hauled on wagens. These are the only shippers of lumber from this point; their average shipments are about two hundred car loads per year.

NOTES TOUCHING THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY AND TOWN- ITS PIONEER SETTLERS, AND BUSINESS CONDITION AND PROSPECTS, IN 1875. (From a Town Journal.)

This county was formed, with many others, now comprehended within the limits of Northwestern Olo. April 1, 1820; and, like Williams and Paulding, named from one of the captors of the unfortunate British officer, Major Andre-Lane Van Wert. The county, at its date of for- mation, was populous only in ludians and wild game- the white settlers being few in number. It was attached to Mercer for judicial purposes; and it was not until 1.36, that the county became relieved of its swad- dling clothes, and organized as a distinct and independent county.

115

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

The first court was hebt at Willshire, October 3, 1836. The first ses- sion of the Commissioners convened at Wilshire, April 29. 1556. At the time of its organization. Van Wert consisted of twelve townships, only four of which, namely : Pleasant, Ridge, Willshire, and Jennings, were organized.

According to the statement of Davis Johnson-undoubted authority -and who settled in Harrison Township, five miles north of Willshire, in April, 1536, the first public sale of lots in the town of Van Wert was made on the 17th day of June, 1837. Mr. Johnson has hehl several of the most important offices in the county.

James Gordon Gilliland removed to the county in 1835. He served three terms as treasurer, and three terms as commissioner of Van Wert County. No public officer discharged duties more faithfully, and none had a firmer hold upon the public confidence.

William Johns removed to Harrison Township in October, 1937; and in 1839 to Pleasant Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred Dec. 4. 1871. Mr. Johns was an old Indian trader, and his son, David Johns, is now one of the most successful business men in the town.

Dr. P. John Hines, the first physician, and yet living, came to the town in 1938; but the Gillilands, the Hills, and John Mark, preceded the Doctor, and were here in 1935. Darius Evers, now even in the vigor of his manhood, came in 1839.

Among those established in Van Wert in 1842, were Samuel Engle- right, John W. Conn, I. D. Clark, J. M. Barr, Win. Parent, Joseph Glea- son, Samuel Clark, E. R. Wells, Thomas R. Mott, Wm. Thorn, Daniel Cook, David Fisher, Isaac Doherty, Robert Gilliland, Dr. P. John Hines, David Richey, Jacob Thorn, John Roach. George MeManama, Thomas Thorn, Samuel Parent, James G. Cress, Wm. Frouetield, R. C. Spears, and Reuben Frisbie.

The late Perrin De Puy, a well-known and popular attorney, and Hon. Chas. P. Edson, became residents of Van Wert in 1946. Joseph Shil- ling, who was connected with the hotel business at Little Sandusky from 1835 until the removal of the Wyandots from their oll reservation in 1844, and who had been, during many years, on friendly terms with the educated members of that tribe. came to Van Wert in 1855.

The nearest water mills were at Fort Wayne and Piqua; though there was a horse mill, at which corn and buckwheat were ground, situated on Jennings Prairie, and another in Union Township, Mercer County. Lesser mills, popularly known as the " arm-strong," or Hand mill-the stones being "nigger heads," and worked by hand-would, by dint of hard labor, turn out a peek of corn meal in twelve hours; and these lat- ter mills found a place beside a hand-loom in nearly every cabin.

The town of Van Wert was laid out on the 30th of March, 1835 -- Geo. Marsh, James Watson Riley, and Peter Augenbaugh being the original proprietors. The last addition, by Judge Win. L. Helfenstein, was made on the 29th of August, 1840.

There are thirteen churches -- I Presbyterian, 1 M. E., 1 English and 1 German Lutheran, I Baptist, 1 Disciple, 1 Catholic, I Evangelical Protestant, and I African M. E., 1 Society of Friends, 1 African Bap- tist, and 1 German Reformed.

. New Structures.

Within the last two years. the business houses and dwellings erected, and now in process, excepting those made by A. Jacobs, A. B. McCurly, F. S. Bonewitz, C. A. Melsheimer, J. S. Brumback, and a few others, have largely exceeded in value, improvements that were built before them, and which were made since the town was organized. During the pre- ceding two years the following mentioned buiklings, of brick walls, have been erected, or are now in process of construction :-

The court-house, at a cost of at least 850,000, and which, when com- pleted, will be the most attractive public edifice, considering its cost, that has been built in Northwestern Ohio, will be a credit to the town and county. The firm of T. J. Tolan & Son, architects, whose names are becoming the most prominent in the country, in the line of their profession, made the plan, and have superintendence of the work. E. W. Wilson is contractor.

A new Presbyterian church, now nearly completed, is the finest church building in the town. Its dimensions are 76 by 46 feet.

The people of the town are indebted to the enterprise of T. S. Gilli- land, Mayor, for the ercetion of the Opera Block-a building of three floors, and covering an area of 423 by 100 feet, situated on Washington Street. The printing rooms of the Van Wert Bulletin and other offices are in this building. The opera room will have a capacity for comfort- ably seating, when fully completed, over 700 pemde.

A mammoth block, 132 feet on Washington Street, and 89 feet on Main Street-the joint work of T. S. MeKun, A. S. Burt, W. HI. Pen- nell, and D. Newcomer, and another of magnificent proportions, on the diagonal corner, known as the " Iron Block," in which are included the First National Bank, the Times printing office, and some of the most prominent business offices of the place, were erceted by J. S. Brumback, John A. Conn. Thomas Geppert. Other fine business blocks have been erected by Jacob Miller, Joe May, S. A. Norris, I. N. Alexander, J. W. l'enn & Co., George Dasher, and A. Lynch.

A new public school building, at a cost exceeding $10,000. is pro- Hounced by the State Superintendent of Common Schools, considering its cost, the best erected in Ohio within the last ten years.

And the following elegant private residences, also of brick: Wmn. H. Clymer, S. Swineford, Thomas Geppert, Col. I. N. Alexander, Dr. A. N. Krout, and George Dasher; and a much larger number of frame walls, some of which cost as large an amount of money as those mentioned ; and chief among these is the residence, lately erected, of the prominent clothier, General A. Jacobs, which is, in all respects, a model structure.

All the benevolent orders are well represented.

Manufacturing.

Fully six hundred thousand dollars are invested in the following- named manufacturing industries: five steam flouring mills, 2 planing mills, I saw mill, 4 brick yards, I hub and spoke factory, 6 wagon and carriage shops, Il blacksmith shops, 1 woolten mill, 3 cabinet factories, 2 harness shops, 2 marble shops, 2 lumber yards, I broom-handle fretory, 1 tile factory, 7 shoe and 3 tailor shops. I ashery, I brewery, 1 fax mill. 1 cheese factory, and 2 cooper shops. Nineteen steam engines are work- ing within and directly outside the corporation. .

An efficient fire department is always in readiness to protect the prop- erty of the city against ravages by fire.

General Business.

One of the features in Van Wert business that indicates a rapid ap- proach to metropolitan arrangements in trade, is discovered in the clas. sification of goods. Some fifteen or eighteen years ago, the several stores were " general merchandise," which embraced nearly all lines of goods in demand by people of the town and country. Now this system has passed away; and those who are in search of dry goods, will seek dry-goods stores, and those desiring hardware or boots and shoes, will find those establishments-and thus all the several department of trade have now become sharply defined.

Three newspaper establishments-all issuing journals creditable to the town and county. They are the Van Wert Times, by W. H. Clymer; the Van Wert Bulletin, by Jacob H. Foster, and the Van Wert Press. by James A. MeConaby. The Bulletin is unquestionably the most me- tropolitan in all its appointments of any newspaper establishment out- side of Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus or Cleveland, that is now in opera- tion in Ohio. The enterprise of its proprietor bas no limit.

Six dry-goods stores: Bonewitz & Jolins, MeKim & Hall, J. S. Brum- bach & Co., Levi Zimmerman, A. L. Teubner & Co., and Mr. Hackedorn.

Three clothing stores: A. Jacobs, New York Clothing Store, and Alexander & Kassel.

Five drug stores: A. P. Linn, C. A. Melshimer, P. J. Hines & Son, and W. H. l'ennell.

Three hardware stores : A. B. MeCurdy & Son, Casto & Eyler, and S. B. Hertz.

Six boot and shoe stores: Clark, Richey & Co., Philip Profit, William Hartel. G. W. Mosure, Wilkinson & Son, and Toledo Cheap Boot and Shoe Store.

Five millinery stores: Mrs. Zannin Smith, Mrs. Schrefller, Mrs. W. T. Lamb, Miss MeKim & Miss Rowley, and Mrs. Marshall.

Two dressmakers: Mrs. Dunlap and Miss Reese.

Twenty-seven grocery and provision stores: James E. Morrison. A. Lynch, D. H. Clippinger, Dunathan. Humphreys & Holbrook, Riechter & Faber, Joseph May, Il. J. Wise & Son, Jacob Miller, C. W. Wallace, David Newcomer, James Conn, Edwards & Gaskilt, Brehm & Stole. D. W. Parmort, S. Swineford & Sons, David & Allen, John Eckfeblt & Son, Thomas Geppert, Andrew Moebus, JJohn P. Cline, MeCoy & Co., D. H. Scholl, George Hammer, Gotleib Wise, George Hall, Tucker, P'at- terson & Co., and William Pier.

One fruit store : John Springer.

Five bakeries: Thomas Geppert, A. Lynch, John Eckfeldt, John P. Kline. and G. Wise.

One hair store : Mrs. Kirk.

One book store: Wenger & Pennypacker.

Two jewelry stores : A. P. Mcconahay and William Snashall.

Four hotels: Delay House, American House, Van Wert House, and Davis House.

Three saddle and harness shops: B. F. Shoop & Co., J. II. Strandler & Co., and N. Fugate & Co. Two photograph Galleries: J. F. Rank & Co, and U. H. Hester. Two furniture stores : J. W. Penn & Co. and G. W. Gioss.

Two undertakers: C. W. Lown & Son and Jacob Conover. Five meat markets.

Six sewing machine agencies.

Clothing and Merchant Tailoring.

Among the oldest business houses in Van Wert is that of Gen. . I. Jacobs. Few have been more successful and enterprising, and none

176

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

have contributed more liberally and judiciously of their means to advance the interests of the town. These traits, added to the fact that he is the oklest merchant in the trade in Van Wert, and that his business trans- actions have ever been characterized by fair dealings, have given him a hold upon the homes and trade of neighboring towns that cannot be shaken by competition however powerful. His stock embraces all lines of gentlemen's furnishing goods ; and a large proportion of sales are of clothing manufactured for home customers, which are ent and made up by the most competent workmen that can be obtained. His present cutter is Mr. A. C. Elliott, who has selected Van Wert as a home, and who has an established character as one of the most accomplished cutters in the business.

Jewelry and Music Store.

The largest and best stocked establishment handling these goods in Van West, and having no successful rival in any place outside of Toledo, in Northwestern Ohio, is conducted by A. P. MeConabay, whose busi- ness place is on Main Street, nearly opposite the new court-house. Among his goods are included diamonds, the best American and Swiss watches, for ladies and gentlemen: jewelry of the latest styles and purest material ; solid silver and plated ware; every kind of the best improved musical instruments, clocks, fine table cutlery, Italian violin strings, vulcanized rubber goods, and everything in the lines enumerated. His direct business relations with manufacturers enables him to success- fully baffle all attempts at competition ; and through these arrangements his customers are secured the most advantageous rates in every character of goods embraced in the several departments belonging to the jewelry trade. Mr. MeConahay commenced business here in 1864, and in that time has built up an establishment that is popular throughout North- western Ohio.

Howe Sewing Machine.

Gen. W. Day has the agency in Van Wert County for the sale of the Ilowe Sewing Machine. The Howe, as all well-informed people know, was the first machine in the market, and has maintained supremacy by . repeated improvements, and is now, doubtless, the best in use. Thomas R. Burdell, who has had many years experience in the sewing machine business, and who has ample medlities for repairing machines of any manufacture, has been employed by Mr. Day to assist him. The Howe rooms are in the basement of the iron front block, corner of Main and Washington streets, Robert Conn's offl corner. During the year over 105,000 of the Howe machines were sold in the United States alone, the European sales not included in this number.

Drugs, etc.

W. II. Pennell, whose building enterprise is noticed in another place, is the principal dealer in the above class of goods at No. 3 Union Block. The best retail establishment in Toledo is hardly better stocked with "drugs, medicines, paints, oils, and other goods belonging to the trade, and none can exhibit better rooms. His jobbing sales are becoming large. A considerable portion of his attractive rooms is devoted to the sale of books and stationery. In the prescription department this house is especially popular among the profession, and really controls the entire trade.

Board of Trade Rooms.

On the broad plateau fronting the store of Conn & Noble, corner of Main and Jefferson streets, occur the principal sales of live stock and general farm productions ; and those sales, on account of the rapid in- ercase within the last few years of agricultural wealth in the district of country that seeks Van Wert as a market, have grown into high import- ance, and have fixed Conn & Noble's grocery and provision store as a Board of Trade Rooms, where balances are adjusted between buyer and seller. Horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, and the various grains during market seasons first strike this busy corner, and here the competing purchasers crowd the stock droves and freighted grain, vegetable, and fruit wagons, and exchanges are made. Conu & Noble's establishment is, therefore, in point of fact the Van Wert Board of Trade, or Exchange Building, whichever one may please to term it.

Charles Mount, T. S. M. Kim, and G. A. Hall.

The oldest general merchandise management, and most continuously engaged in trade in the county and town of Van Wert without per- mitting their capital to become diverted to enterprises outside of legiti- mate merchandise, are those whose names are above written, although others who have extended their sphere have been equally successful.

Mr. MeKim established himself in the general merchandise business first at Willshire, Ang. 25, 1x16, in copartnership with his brother-in- law, Charles Mount (the latter having commenced trade in Willshire as early as 1-33). The partnership was dissolved at Willshire, and Mr. MeKim removed to Van Wert in the fall of 1:53. Mr. Mount was an honored citizen of the county and town, well known to all the old inhab-

itants, and now resides at Pleasant Hill, Mo., having retired from active Isiness. In 1855, the partnership having been meantime dissolved, Mr. MeKim removed to Van Wert, where he opened a store, and continued in business ten years, and then sold to Dr. Harb, of Will-hire, the stock, reserving his real estate on the corner of Main and Washington streets. and engaged in the following year ( May, 1866) in the auction and com- mission business in partnership with Levi Zimmerman, and continued this occupation until 1567, when the lease of Dr. Harb expired, and Mr. Mckim resumed possession of the old corner, and supplied it with a new and fresh stock of goods, Dr. Harb returning to Willshire with the remnant of his stock.

G. A. Hall, the now partner of Mr. MeKim, is a merchant "to the manner born," having commenced on the lowest round of the successful business man's holder. He is yet a young man, but possesses all the elements that have brought fortune to many who have started out in life with sound morals, good habits, and well-regulated brain. He left Ger- many, his native land, in 1853, and engaged with Mr. MeKim as a sort of " boy of all work," bearing about the same business relation to Mr. MeKim that the honored President of the First National Bank of Van Wert bore to his first employer, Capt. Thomas Coulter, of Kalida.

This is a brief intermingling of biography and the truth of history. The present condition is, that the firm of Me Kim & Hall occupy a front rank among the dry good business firms of the young cities of Ohio. All of which is fact.

A. B. Mc Curdy.

The finest establishment, exclusively hardware, of prominence, in Van Wert, was founded by A. B. MeCurdy. His thorough knowledge of all the details of the business has enabled him to achieve a degree of suc- cess that has been awarded to only a few engaged in trade. He erected the first prominent business block in the town, and none that have suc- ceeded it have very largely improved upon his own. The firm is now known as A. B. MeCurdy & Son; and in addition to hardware. they are agents for the sale of the Studebaker wagon, and always have on hand a full line of farm, garden, and household implements, as well as a con- siderable amount of the best field machinery.

Boots and Shoes.

Toledo made an error when it permitted Merry & Bloomfieldl to leave the city, and establish houses for the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes at Van Wert and Delphos. The same mistake occurred when the Obio Wheel Company was permitted to transfer its large business from Toledo to Delphos. But the change of base of Merry & Bloomfield from Toledo, and dividing their stock between Van Wert and Delphos. has resulted beneficially to the last-named places. While in Toledo, they occupied the first place as manufacturers, and as also controlling. to a considerable extent, the trade in the choicest goods of Eastern manufac- ture. They bring to Van Wert aud offer to their customers of goods at wholesale prices -- an offer that no others in the business can afford to make. The Van Wert establishment of Mossrs. Merry and Bloomfield is known as the Toledo cheap boot and shoe store.

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History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 52

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton Number of Pages: 878

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878