USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 84
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David Barmore and James Howard also built vessels here in 1834-35, and after a year's con- tinuance of the business failed.
William, George, and Henry French engaged in ship-building in 1829, and turned out some fine boats. They were in the business several years, and ranked high as builders. Henry French and Peter Myers engaged in the business in 1847, and turned out considerable good work in the five years they were associated. Mr. French attended to the ship-yard while Mr. Myers had
charge of the saw-mill. The business was finally divided, Mr. Myers retaining the saw-mill, which he rented to French, Stratton, and Logan, and some years later it burned. Logan, who was connected with the saw-mill, died, and Stratton sold to David S. Barmore in 1864.
BARMORE'S SHIP-YARD.
David S. Barmore was engaged in the busi- ness with Samuel King in 1856, and in the firm of Stuart & Barmore in 1864. In 1869 Mr. Barmore bought Stuart's interest, and has since continued the business alone. He had a con- siderable yard and turns out many fine hoats. During the war he built a number of boats for the Government. When first in business alone he built four boats, the Coosa Belle, Julia, Swan, and Jesse K. Bell. Since that time he has built the following steamers, some being side-wheel, stern and others center wheel boats:
Lilly, Warren Belle, Sam Nicholas, Atlantic, Dexter, Belle Lee, John Lumsden, Mary Houston, Lizzie Campbell, W. S. Pike, Grand Era, Belle Yazoo, Seminole, Bradish John- son, Wade Hampton, M. J. Wicks, C. B. Church, A. J. White, Lightest, Southwestern, Lucy Kevin, Onichita Belle, Katie, Capitol City, Fannie Lewis, Emma C. Elliott, Maria Louise, Carrie A. Thorne, Sabine, Business, Silvertthorn, Fowler, Fannie Keener, Mary, W. J. Behan, Yazoo, Ozark Belle, W. J. Lewis, Mattie, Belle St. Louis, May Bryon, Mary Lewis, Sunflower Belle, Lilly, Tensas, Tallahatchie, Baton Rouge, Barataria, Osceola Belle, Calhoun, Yellow- stone, Southern Belle, Gold Dust, Little Eagle, J. Don Cameron, General Sherman, John Wilson, Alvin, Carrie Hogan, Mary Elizabeth, Little Bob B., New Mary Houston, Whisper, John H. Johnson, E. C. Carroll, Jr., Sunflower, Leflore, Deer Creek, St. John, Maggie F. Burke, Shields, W. P. Halliday, General Barnard, Richard Ford, Kwasind, E. H. Barmore, Napoleon, E. W. Cole, J. Bertram, Jack Frost, John F. Lincoln, City of St. Louis, Iohn, Belle Crooks.
Besides the above Mr. Barmore has built the following wharf-boats, barges, coal boats, etc. :
Wharf-boat, Hettie, Mary, Essetelle, Flat-boat Eva, Coal float, Missouri No. 1, Missouri No. 2, Charlie Hill, Saline No. 1, No name, Little Eagle No. 2, No. 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, Lime barge, Nos. 57, 58, 59, Engineer No. 1, Engineer No. 2, Khedive, Egypt, Saline No. 2, No. 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, Saline No. 3, Barges No. 26, 37,36, 79, 80,81, 82, 83, 84, 85, Saline No. 4, Barges, 86, 87, Landing barge, Four grading boats, Eight pile drivers for the Government.
Besides the above, twelve pile drivers are now in course of construction. About one hundred and sixty men are employed in the yards.
THE HOWARD SHIP-YARD.
The Howards, James and Daniel, engaged in ship-building in 1848. During the seventeen
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years they were connected in the business they built up a very large trade, and made the finest boats ever run on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Previous to the war their boats were mostly used in the Southern trade, though some were made for the smaller streams emptying in- to the two great rivers. The outbreak of the war found the brothers in good financial shape, though much was due them from Southern pur- chasers. Work was continued uninterruptedly, and the yard gradually enlarged, until at this time there is none larger on either of the large rivers. In fact, Jeffersonville is the principal ship-building place for the river trade. In 1865 Daniel Howard withdrew from the firm. The next year James was accidentally drowned from a ferry-boat. He had driven his horse on the boat, and was sitting in his carriage, when the horse backed to get out the way of a team, and the gate being unfastened the carriage was over- turned in the water, drowning its unfortunate oc- cupant. Daniel Howard in early life was a ship-carpenter, and afterwards engineer on Mis- sissippi river boats. While engaged in vessel- building the brothers built over two hundred boats at a cost of $35,000 each, or a total of over $7,000,000. In the early years sawing of lumber was done by means of whip-saws, and hewing by axes. Since then the saw-mills pre- pare most of the timber.
On the retirement of Daniel Howard the firm became James Howard & Company, the com- pany being represented by a brother, John C., and a son, Edward J. The present firm is Howard & Company. For many years the firm built only the hulls of vessels, the cabins and in- terior work being done by contract with other parties, but for some time all work except the machinery has been done at the yard. Boats are-built of various degrees of displacement, the lightest drawing but ten inches of water.
The land on which this yard is located was formerly the property of Mr. Zulauf, but is now owned by the Howards. The number of men employed is two hundred and fifty. At present six boats and five barges are in course of con- struction ; a large steamer, the City of Cairo, hav- ing lately been completed, made her trial trip the latter part of March, 1882.
The Howards have built and launched the following-named boats and barges :
In 1834 and 1835, at Jeffersonville-Steamers Hyperion, Black Locust (ferry), Tecumseh.
In 1836 and 1837, at Madison-Steamers Irvington, Liv- ingston, Argo, Robert Fulton; barges Hard Times, Natchez. In 1843, at Madison-Steamer Montezuma.
In 1846, at Shippingsport, Kentucky-Steamers Courier, Mobile, Major Barbour, General Jessup, Lavacca, James Hewett.
In 1848, at Jeffersonville, Indiana-Steamers Emperor, Louisiana, Mary Foley, Prairie Bird (ferry boat); dredge boat for Louisville and Portland canal.
In 1849- Steamers St. Charles, Isabella, Falcon, Fanny Smith, Lexington.
In 1850, at Louisville-Steamers Empress, Helen, Cuba, Music, Blue Wing, John Simpson, Wade Allen, Terrebonne, S. W. Downs, Swan; barges No. I and No. 2.
In 1851, at Jeffersonville-Steamers Lucy McConnell, Glendy Burke, Southern Belle, Frank Lyon, Peter Dalman, W. B. Clifton, Trinity, Dr. Smith, Kate Swinney.
In 1852, at Jeffersonville-Steamers Brunette, Octavia, Sallie Span, Jennie Beale, Magnolia, H. M. Wright, Mes- senger, Sam Dale, A. Wathen, St. Francis, Empress, W. P. Swinney.
In 1853 at Jeffersonville-Steamers George W. Jones, S. S. Prentiss, Southerner, Gopher, C. D. Jr., Runaway, Alice W. Glaze, Josiah H. Bell, Lucy Bell, Ceres, James H. Lucas.
1854-Steamers Fannie Bullitt, Rainbow, Ben Franklin, Capitol, National, Marion, David Tatum.
1855-Steamer P. C. Wallis, barge Parker, steamers John Tomkins, Victoria, R. L. Cobb, R. M. Patton, Carrier, Scot- land, Diamond.
1856-Steamers N. J. Eaton, John Warner, Dove, Prin- cess, Pete Whetstone, Kate Howard, Woodford, Governor Tease, Uncle Ben, W. R. Douglas, Colonel Edwards, Silver Heels.
1857-Steamers Joseph G. Smith, Twilight, Alonzo Child, Southwestern, New Orleans, Jefferson,: Diana, Music, Platte Valley, John D. Perry; barges, Nos. 1 and 2.
1858-Steamers St. Francis, Rescue, Aline, Judge Porter, and Grand Duke.
1859-Steamers D. F. Kenner, Laurel Hill, Lafourche, Bayou City, J. M. Sharp, J. D. Swain, and James Woods.
1860-Steamers Isaac Bowman, Mary T., Little Sallie, Memphis, Accachie, J. F. Pargood, Robert Campbells, and John A. Colton.
1861-Steamer Major Anderson.
1862-Steamers General Buell, Wren, Ruth, and James Thompson.
1863-Steamers Julia, Olive Branch, Bostonia, Tarascon, and Blue Wing.
1864-Steamers Ida Handy, Morning Star; wharf-boat.
1865-Steamers Virginia, North Missouri, Stonewall.
1866-Barge Galveston; steamers Belle Memphis, Birdie Brent; barges William Dwyer, W. R. Jarmom; steamers Jessie, H. M. Shreve.
1867-Steamers Dove No. 2, Governor Allen, Early Bird, Frank Pargoud.
1868-Steamers Belle of Alton, East St. Louis, Thomas M. Bagley, Trade Palace, St. Francis.
1869-Steamers Ben Franklin, Gladiola, La Belle, Texas, Trenton, Texarkana, Big Sunflower.
1870-Steamers Idlewild, Grand Tower, Cherokee, City of Vicksburgh, Diana, City of Chester, Lessie Taylor; barge Howard; steamers James Howard, John Howard; barge
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Bayou City, Gulf barge Paul; steamer James Wathen; barge Dixie.
1871-Barges Houston, Otter, Beaver, Terny, Lee, Rusk, Tarascon, Grey Eagle, and No. 1; steamers, Grey Eagle, Lizzie, City of Helena, St. Mary, John Howard; wharf-boat, Shawneetown.
1872-Steamers Concordia, R. T. Briarly, John S. Brans- ford, Longfellow: barges No. 2, No. 47, No. 48, Little Fay- elte; two wharf-boats.
1873-Barges Atlantic, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 50, Little Nell, and John Howard; steamers, Dolphin, Three States, Arch P. Breen, Z. M. Sherley, H. S. McComb, Red Cloud, B. H. Cook, and Ida.
1874-Barges Emerke, Utica, Relief; steamer Fawn.
1875-Barges Porter White, Jim Black, Chicago, Pin- hook, and Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20; steamers Junius S. Morgan, Bonnie Lee, Rene McCready, Timmie Baker, Assumption, and Statie Fisher.
1876-Steamers Celina, Walker Morris, Robert E. Lee, Yazoo Valley, C. W. Anderson, Alberta, and E. B. Stahl- man.
1877-Steamers Headlight, Delver, John G. Fletcher; barges Louis Hile, Allen Hite; steamers Mattie Hays, G. Gunley Jordon, Dora Cabler, Fashion, James Howard ; barges No. I, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4; wharf-boat; barge Stella Clifton; steamers Winnie, James Guthrie.
1878-Steamers John W. Cannon, J. M. While, New Shallcross, Laura Lee, Jewel, B. S. Rhea; model barges No. 5, No. 6, Herbert, Ed. Richardson.
1879-Steamer City of Greenville; barge Victor; steamers C. N. Davis, City of Yazoo, Rainbow, William Fagan, Churner, Jesse K. Bell, Wash Gray; wharf-boat.
1880-Steamer Milwaukee; horse ferry boat; steamers Gus Fowler, City of Providence, Concordia, Joseph Henry; An- chor Line barge No. 1; steamer Alberta; Anchor Line barge No. 2; steamers Clyde, Thomas D. File, Belle Memphis (2d); railroad transfer barge.
1881-Steamers W. Butler Duncan ; Jeffersonville ferry dock; steamers Ella, L. P. Ewald, City of Vicksburg, J. P. Drouillard, City of New Orleans, City of Baton Rouge; barges Hermit, Guy Clark; three crane boats; steamer City of Nashville; barge No. 4; steamer City of Cairo; barge No. I, Barge No. 2.
On the stocks are an Anchor Line steamer, four barges, one ferry boat, and a Cumberland river steamer.
FLOURING MILLS.
In the early day a flouring-mill was built on Cane run, near Clarksville, operated by water- power, and kept busy until about 1840. It was at one time run by the Longs. The foundation finally became undermined and the building was abandoned.
Another grist- and saw-mill was built at Silver creek, which was in operation before 1838. It was at one time partially destroyed by the stream, but was rebuilt and is yet running.
In 1847 S. H. Patterson and James Callahan erected a brick flouring-mill on Spring street, in Jeffersonville. This was the first steam flouring- mill in the city, and was run by them some two years, when Mr. Patterson bought the interest of
his partner, and soon after sold the entire mill to John F. Howard, a merchant of Louisville, who, in company with Dr. Warren Horr, kept it in operation about two years, and the business failing to meet their anticipations they sold the machinery and closed the mill. The building is now occupied with store rooms.
The only flouring-mill now in the city is that of Henry Same, which contains two run of stones, one for corn, the other for wheat. This has been in operation since 1868, and does a moderate business.
In 1812 a mill site was granted to General George Rogers Clark in Clarksville, which he seems never to have used, but soon sold to Fetter & Hughes, who built a mill below the railroad bridge which now crosses the Ohio, and kept it in operation when the state of the water would permit, for many years. A large ware- house was built on the second bank, for the storage of grain. This mill was an important one to the people of that day, and did an excel- lent business, but was allowed to go to decay previous to 1831. The old mill-stones remained in existence many years, but are now gone.
In 1850 Smith & Smyser built a mill above where the bridge now stands, which was in active operation until 1869, when it was burned. A new mill was then built just below the bridge, and put in operation in 1870. The power used is a turbine water-wheel, though an engine has since been placed in the building for use when the water is too high for the wheel. The mill is now called the Falls Power mill, and is owned by R. O. Gathright, who bought the building, including the race-course made by the Ohio Falls Hydraulic & Manufacturing company, in 1880. This mill now has eleven run of stone and seven set of rolls for making patent process flour, and can now turn out four hundred barrels of flour daily.
TANNERY.
In 1841 James Lamair, a Frenchman, started a tannery in the north part of Jeffersonville, at the corner of Broadway and Eleventh streets. The buildings he occupied were of frame. Here he carried on the business of dressing leather until 1848, when J. M. Ross and John Ingram bought the business. Ross died a year or two later, and in 1871 Mr. Ingram sold the buildings and land to the Ohio & Mississippi railroad com-
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
pany, who now have a pumping station at that place. Mr. Ingram then bought land and in 1872 erected buildings in Claysburg, near the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad track, where he continues the business. Some years before selling the original site he had erected brick buildings, and when he made his new purchase he also erected a substantial brick building, which has a capacity for $25,000 of business per year. Previous to and during the war the tannery was run to its full capacity, but for some years business has been dull, and it sel- dom reaches that amount. The raw material is mostly procured from slaughterers here and at Louisville, bark for the works being obtained from the knobs. A market for the product is found at Louisville to some extent, but mostly in the West. For a time in 1871, Mr. Ingram's brother, William A., was associated with him in the business until his death.
FOUNDRIES.
The first foundry started in Jeffersonville was located on the ground now occupied by the glass works, and was owned by Robert C. Green, who had formerly owned a large foundry and machine shop in Cincinnati. He came here in 1832, built a shop and carried on the business a num- ber of years. Where he located his works was then timber, which had to be cleared away to make room for the buildings. Here Mr. Green built several steamboats, constructing the engines at his machine shop. After a few years he left and engaged in business at some other place.
THE JEFFERSON FOUNDRY.
Charles C. Anderson came here from Cincin- nati with Robert C. Green, with whom he learned the foundry business, and remained until the latter removed elsewhere. About 1840 Mr. Anderson started a small machine shop a short distance above Howard's ship-yard, which he car- ried on about four years, when he formed a part- nership with Hamilton Robinson, Richard Goss, and James Keigwin, and removed to an old car- riage shop situated on the lot adjoining the City Hotel on Spring street. Here the firm carried on business a number of years, when a change was made in the business and a shop was built on Watt street between Maple and Court avenue. In 1860 this shop was burned, and Mr. Ander- son, who was at that time sole proprietor, lost
most of his property. His friends came to his assistance, and in about six weeks he had erected a temporary building and resumed business .. Since then he has added to his buildings and stocked his foundry with tools, so that he can and is doing a good business. The name of the establishment has been the Jefferson foundry, but it is generally called Anderson's foundry.
SWEENEY'S FOUNDRY.
The foundry now owned and conducted by Michael A. and James Sweeney, on the upper part of Market street, was originally established in 1869 by Michael A. Sweeney and Chris. Baker, who opened a small shop on Pearl street, near the present Court avenue. Mr. Baker re- tired from the firm in 1870, Mr. Sweeney con- tinuing the business alone. In 1872 he moved to Court avenue, and in March, 1876, admitted James Sweeney as a partner. The business was continued here until March, 1881, when the firm purchased nine acres of ground from Guthrie, Marlin & Company, of Louisville, and as soon as buildings could be erected moved their works to the place they now occupy. They have a river frontage of nine hundred and sixty-five feet, and since their purchase of this property have made many valuable permanent improvements. Their machine shops are 200 x 80 feet, foundry 44 × 130, blacksmith shops 120 x 44, pattern house, three story, 100 x 40, office "and store- room 120 x 30, frame warehouse 200 x 60. They also have an extensive boiler shop, which is one of the most complete this side of Pittsburg. At the present time they employ one hundred and twenty men, and will in time, if prospered as they hope, have in their employ four times the pres- ent number.
The principal work of this firm is engine building, though they make all kinds of machin- ery. Their engines are in use on many boats that ply the Ohio ar.d Mississippi rivers and their tributaries, among others the steamers Milwau- kee, Ella, C. N. Davis, Kwasind, Richard Ford -the two latter Government snag boats-the Wichita, Saline, Belle Crooks, and J. A. Wood- son. They have also rebuilt the machinery for the Government steamer General Barnard, and are engaged on machinery for a Government tow-boat, and for a boat to be run on the St. Joseph's river. They also do repairing of loco-
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
motives, of which they have two under way at the yards of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indi- anapolis railroad.
This firm has a leading place in the industries of Jeffersonville.
GAS COMPANY.
In 1859 a company was chartered for the pur- pose of furnishing the city of Jeffersonville and such private citizens as desired to avail them- selves of its privileges, with gas. Pipe was laid and within a year streets were lighted. Since its organization the company has laid some seven to eight miles of main pipe, and lights one hundred and sixty public lamps. The gas is also used to some extent in private houses, as well as in busi- ness places. The city at present pays $1.50 per one thousand cubic feet for gas, $20.00 per year for each street lamp, the company caring for and keeping in repair all lamps furnished by the city. They are allowed to charge private parties $2.00 per one thousand feet. The present officers of the Gas company are H. D. Fitch, president, and F. W. Poindexter, secretary, the office being at the Citizens' National bank.
THE JEFFERSONVILLE PLATE-GLASS COMPANY
was chartered in 1877, under the name of the Ford Plate-glass company, with a capital stock of $125,000. The city donated five hundred feet of ground on Market street, east, extending to the river front, to secure the location of this in- dustry in Jeffersonville. John F. Read was chosen president of the company. In February, 1880, the name was changed to the Jeffersonville Plate-glass company, the incorporators being at this time John F. Read, S. Goldbach, Felix Lewis, Edward Howard, James Burke, Edward Ford, Warren Horr, Joshua Cook, Frederick Herron, Abraham Frye, Jonas C. Howard. S. Goldbach was elected president, H. T. Sage secretary and treasurer, and E. L. Ford superin- tendent. After the reorganization of the com- pany one hundred feet front was added. Two hundred men are employed, and the business is confined to the manufacture of plate-glass.
The manufacture of plate-glass in the United States is of comparatively recent date, the first establishment of the kind, a small one, being located at Lenox, Massachusetts. The quality of glass there made was rough, suitable only for sky-lights and walks, no effort being made to
grind and polish the plates. The second works were started at New Albany in 1869, by J. B. Ford, who may be called the originator of plate- glass manufacture in this country, as he was the first person to attempt the polishing of glass. To obtain an insight into the art he imported ex- perienced workmen from England, and profiting by what he saw has materially improved the pro- cess since that time. After being connected with the New Albany works for a time he was instrumental in establishing works at Louisville, and soon after at Jeffersonville. At this time he is engaged in building the largest works of the kind in this country, at Pittsburg. Before en- gaging in this enterprise, however, he conceived the idea of manufacturing glass pipe for use in cisterns and other places where it is desirable to have for a conducter a tube that will not permit the accumulation, nor engender causes of dis- ease, and in this succeeded. A patent was ob- tained, and a company formed in New York for the manufacture of glass tubing, but owing to other interests of the incorporators demanding their attention for a time, the works are not yet in working condition.
In addition to the glass works already enumer- ated, there is another establishment at Crystal City, Missouri, which makes five in this country.
So great is the demand for plate glass that the works in Jeffersonville are driven to their fullest capacity, and find it difficult to fill their orders. They have two large furnaces, each with a ca- pacity for eight crucibles holding fifteen hundred pounds of melted glass. One furnace is opened in the morning, the other in the afternoon, and sixteen large plates are rolled each day. As soon as possible after pouring the plates are re- moved from the iron bed on which they are made and transferred to the annealing ovens, where they are allowed to gradually cool. They then pass through the various stages of grind- ing, polishing, and cleaning, and are ready to be packed. The entire process requires the great- est care and accuracy, owing to the brittle char- acter of the article, and breakages are not infre- quent.
The table on which the molten mass is poured is 1 1 x 22 feet, and glass can be made of nearly this size, the largest being 110 x 230 inches. The time required to melt the metal in the crucibles, and allow it to cool sufficiently to pour, is twenty-
John Zulauf
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
four hours. The sales of this company during the past year amounted to $250,000. The fin- ished plate is estimated to be worth $1.60 per square foot.
JEFFERSONVILLE ORPHANS' HOME.
In the fall of 1876 a supper was given by the Masons of the city, and at the close of the even- ing's entertainment it was found quite an amount of eatables and some money was still in the hands of the committee. This was distributed to the widows and orphans. From this Mrs. S. H. Patterson, Mrs. Dr. Caldwell, and Mrs. Dr. McClure became interested in caring for the orphans of the place. A meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Patterson, where she was chosen president, Mrs. McClure secretary, and Mrs. Caldwell treasurer. In this manner was perfected the organization of the orphan asylum. The self-appointed officers rented a house on Front street-the same now occupied by Mrs. Toomey as a boarding-house-for a term of three years, and opened the institution with a little foundling. In two weeks two more children were received, and during the three years of this lease quite a number of children had been as sisted. At the expiration of the three years' lease sixteen children were inmates of the home. A noble-hearted lady, Mrs. Zulauf, donated to the cause three building lots, and on this a two- story brick house was built, which is large enough to accommodate sixty children. At present it has thirty-seven inmates, under the care of a matron and assistant. The cost of the asylum and improvements has been nearly $10,000.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
For many years after the settlement of the town dependence was had on the "bucket brigade" in the extinguishment of such fires as occurred. The houses were scattered through- out the town, and little danger existed of a gen- eral conflagration. In about 1837 a fire com- pany was formed and a hand fire engine pur- chased. It was not supplied with suction tubes and like apparatus, as are the modern engines, but had more the appearance of a tight box on trucks like a wagon, and with levers at either side which eight or ten men could work. The water was poured into the box by buckets, and pumped out with much force. Two improved hand engines were afterwards obtained, which
were sufficient for the subjugation of any fires that occurred at that time.
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