USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, Ohio, from the founding of Franklinton in 1797, through the World War period to the year 1920 > Part 37
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St. Ladislaus Church.
This is the only Hungarian parish in the city and was organized in 1908, although lots for the church were bought on Reeb avenue in 1907. Rev. Robert Paulovies, who had been in charge of a Hungarian parish in Dillonvale, Ohio, was chosen by Bishop Hartley for the task of organizing the Hungarians of the South Side into a congregation and to build a church. Services for the Hungarians were first held in the basement of St. Leo's church on Hanford street, and the new St. Ladislaus church on Rech avenue was dedieated by the Bishop on November 22, 1908. In a few months Father Paulovies was succeeded by Rev. J. H. O'Neil as temporary pastor, and on September 19, 1909, the day of his ordination, Rev. Maximilian J. Pivetz was placed in charge of St. Ladislaus, remaining there ever since. A new parish house was built in 1911, and in 1916 a one-story school was ereeted where four Ursuline Sisters now teach about 70 primary grade pupils. The Sisters live in a convent home purchased for them to the east of the school. There are a large number of foreigners in this section of the city and the parish promises to be a growing one.
St. Cyprian's Church&
St. Cyprian's, the only Catholic church for colored people in Columbus is located on Hawthorne street near St. Anthony's Hospital. This work among the colored people was
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inspired solely by Bishop Hartley's desire to carry out the apostolic character of his high office, and with this end in view he acquired the site of St. Cyprian's in 1912. A building was put up designed for both church and school, also a most attractive little chapel. On the request of the Bishop, Mother Katherine Drexel, founder of the Order of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who work exclusively among colored people, supplied Sisters to teach the school. She also built a convent for them adjoining the church. In September, 1912, the school was opened with 28 pupils, all non-Catholics. In 1914 a second building was erected, adding three classrooms and a hall for entertainments. The buildings were paid for by benevolent Catholics interested in the work. There are at present 115 pupils in the school and 96 Catholics in the parihs.
Immaculate Conception Church.
When Holy Name parish was organized it was thought that the needs of the northern part of the city would be supplied for many years, but in 1915 it became apparent that in the vicinity of Clintonville there were enough Catholics to form the nucleus of a new congrega- tion. In the fall of that year Bishop Hartley purchased ground on North Broadway and on December 8, Rev. C. J. Norris, assistant pastor of the Cathedral, was appointed pastor of the new parish which was placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. A frame chapel of artistic construction was built, and was dedicated by the Bishop on Decem- ber 8, 1916. A handsome residence adjoining, being offered for sale, was bought for the pastor's home. In October, 1917, Father Norris resigned to accept a commission as Chap- lain in the Army, and Rev. John J. Murphy was appointed his successor.
(The schools, hospitals and charitable work conducted by the Catholics are considered by the same writer in appropriate chapters .- Editor.)
CHAPTER XXVI. RELIGIOUS LIFE -JEWISH AND OTHERS.
First Jewish Congregation in 1849-B'nai Jeshuren, B'nai Israel-Temple at Main and Third Streets Erected-Removal to Bryden Road-Three Orthodox Congregations-Christian Scientists-Spiritualists-Latter Day Saints - Seventh Day Adventists - Non-Sec- tarian.
The first Jewish congregation was organized in 1849 under the name, B'nai Jeshuren, an orthodox society, the principal members of which were Judah Nusbaum, Nathan and Joseph Gundersheimer, Simon Mack, S. Lazarus, Samuel Hess, Abraham Amburg, M. Breidenstuhl, S. Schwalbe, S. Morrison and M. Aaronson. The first of these had come in 1838. S. Laz -. arus, merchant clothier, officiated as Rabbi, without remuneration, and Nathan Guader- sheimer, who was in a similar business, was the first president of the society. The first meeting place was an upstairs room of what was known as the Twin Brothers' clothing store. The next Rabbi was Joseph Goodman, who officiated till 1855, when Rev. Samuel Weil was called from Cincinnati to take charge of the congregation here. The meeting place was changed to a room over the old Siebert gun store on the west side of High street between Rich and Main streets, and then to Walcutt's Hall, and there was a succession of Rabbis ineluding Rev. S. Goodman, Rev. Mr. Wetterhahn and Rev. Mr. Rosenthal.
In the spring of 1870 nineteen of the members withdrew and organized the congrega- tion of B'nai Israel, with Nathan Gundersheimer as president, Jacob Goodman secretary, Joseph Gundersheimer treasurer and S. Amburg, Louis Kahn and Judah Goodman as trustees. The original congregation was subsequently dissolved.
For the purpose of ereeting an cdifice adapted to the Hebrew form of worship, a lot was bought at the northwest corner of Main and Third streets for. $5,000, pledged by twenty-one members of the congregation which at that time numbered thirty-five. Subscriptions for the temple were solicited, not only in Columbus but elsewhere, the contraet was let to Hall & Fornoff and the two Gundersheimers and Jacob Goodman were appointed to supervise the erection of the building. The cornerstone was laid May 15, 1870, with Masonic ceremonies. There was a parade, in which Masonic and Odd Fellow bodies participated ; the Maenner- chor sang to the tune of Pleyel's Hymn, the stanzas beginning:
Round the spot, Moriah's Hill, Masons meet with cheerful will; Him who stood as King that day We as cheerfully obey.
The address of the occasion was delivered by Rev. Isaac M. Wise, of Cineinnati, his theme being "Human Dignity."
The dedication of the temple occurred September 16 following. After an address at Walcutt's Hall by Rev. J. Wechsler, a procession was formed and marched to the door of the temple where the key was formally presented to Nathan Gundersheimer, who opened the door and admitted the people. Singing, prayer, a procession of the bearers of the scrolls of the law, which were finally placed in the Ark at the rear of the pulpit, and addresses by Rev. Mr. Wechsler and Rev. Mr. Wise were the principal features of the program. Up to this time services had been condueted in Hebrew, but at this time a change was made to English and the latter language has since been used.
This building was used for thirty years and then, following the example of other churches in the central part of the city, the congregation decided to move into one of the residential districts. A lot was bought on Bryden Road between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, and there a far more beautiful temple was crected and dedicated and occupied in 1901-05. Rabbi David Klein, who for a long period served the congregation, officiated at the cornerstone-laying and dedication. Dr. Joseph S. Kornfeld has now for ten years been the Rabbi in charge.
Other Jewish congregations that have sprung up in comparatively recent years to meet the demands of the increasing population are: Agudath Achim (United Brotherhood) : Beth
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Jaeob (House of Jacob) : Ahavath Shalom (Lovers of Peace)-all presided over by Rabbi S. M. Neches, and Tifereth Israel (Glory of Israel), Rabbi Jacob Klein.
Agudath Achim congregation was organized in 1885 and for years services were held in a building on Fourth street. In 1895 a synagogue was built on Fifth street, and in 1906 a lot was bought at the corner of Washington avenue and Donaldson street, and the corner- stone of the present edifiee was laid in June, 1907. The congregation has 365 members and over 100 seat-holders, while the capacity of the synagogue is more than 1,500. In well equipped rooms, a Hebrew sehool is eondueted every day after public school hours, under the supervision of the rabbi and four teachers. Here the children learn Hebrew ; while on Sunday morning the children are taught in English Jewish history and literature. The first rabbi of the congregation was Rev. Dr. Isaac Winakofsky. Rabbi Morris Taxon sueeceded him in 1912 and was in turn suceeeded in February, 1918, by Rabbi S. M. Neehes.
Beth Jacob Congregation, composed of Russian Jews, was organized in the house of Rev. Mr. Dump, on Livingston avenue, in 1903. It now occupies a beautiful synagogue on Donaldson street.
Ahavath Shalom Congregation is composed mostly of Jews who eame from the southern part of Russia and has its synagogue on Washington avenue.
Rabbi Neches is a virile, well edueated young man, born of an ancient Hebrew family in Jerusalem, October 5, 1892. He was educated in the College of the Tree of Life, Jeru- salem. His first congregation was in Alexandria, Egypt. He came to America in 1913, served as rabbi in Pittsburg four year and then came to Columbus to serve the three eongre- gations named, with a membership of about 600.
Christian Science.
The First Church of Christ, Seientist. was organized on November 19, 1896. The first publie meeting of the seven people who later became the founders of this ehureh was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding, 404 Oak street, the previous Deeember, and regular meetings were held there until April, 1896, when a room was leased in the Board of Trade. The increase in membership demanding more room the use of Wells Post Hall was secured and here services continued to be held until the congregation began worship in its own hand- some chureh near the corner of Broad and Grant avenue. This was in 1903. In a very short while it was seen that more space was demanded for ehureh serviees as well as Sunday school and reading rooms, and the old Wetmore place further east on Broad street was purchased, on which is now erected one of the most beautiful church edifiees in the city.
The Second Church of Christ, Seientist, was organized by the members of the First Church, residents of the North Side, who desired a more convenient place of worship. The organization was effceted September 5, 1912, a site was seeured at West First avenue and Park street, and a beautiful edifiee was erected in 1915, the total eost being $70,000. The present officers are: President, Charles M. Peters; treasurer, B. F. Froelich; clerk, Mrs. Ione Wood. The membership is 235; Sunday sehool enrollment, 160; superintendent, Lenore K. Sosey.
In 1918, the two ehurehes united for the distribution of literature and the maintenance of a reading room, and for these purposes maintain offiees down town. Mrs. Ann Sayre is librarian.
Spiritualists.
The Spiritualists have four churches in Columbus, the First Church, a historie stone cdifiee, being located at the corner of State and Sixth streets. Previous to the ereetion of this ehureh the small band of Spiritualists worshipped in various places. Their other ehurehes are: Christian, 689 East Long street; St. Andrew's, 118 North High street, upstairs ; and the West Side Church at 75 MeDowell street.
Latter Day Saints.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Columbus is a branch of the organization of the same name with headquarters in Independenee, Missouri. It was organized in Columbus, November 12, 1900, at the home of Mr. J. W. Throp, 56 West Jason avenue, by Apostle W. H. Kelly, and consisted of nine members, of which J. E. Matthews, now a patriareh of the general church, was one.
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The first meeting place was a church which had formerly been used by the Methodist denomination, then standing at the corner of High and Duncan streets. From this place they moved to a hall in the Robinson block at High and Hudson streets, and in 1907 a hall was secured on the west side of High street known as the G. A. R. Hall, directly across the street.
The membership had increased to about 150 and, as some of the members resided in other parts of the city, it was decided to try to open up a mission work in South Columbus. 'This mission prospered and in 1909 a hall was secured on Kossuth street near High street, and finally in 1912 a church was purchased on Sixth near Innis avenue. This was still con- ducted as a mission until February, 1915, when a separate branch was organized with a membership of 10. The new organization was known as the Second Columbus Branch while the parent organization was known as the First Columbus Branch.
The First Branch purchased a lot on the southwest corner of Tompkins street and Medary avenue in 1912 and on September 12, 1915, a church edifice was opened to the public at this place. This building was largely built by the members donating their time and today is valued at $9,000. Elder Arthur Allen, one of the general church missionaries, who previous to entering the ministerial field had been an architect, supervised the building.
The membership of the First Branch today is about 175 members. The ministers of this denomination do not receive any salary for their labors and some of them are well known men in Columbus.
The organization in Columbus has among its members one apostle, one patriarch, one high priest, five elders, as well as priests, teachers and deacons.
This church has sometimes been confused with an organization in Utah, but several courts including an Ohio court have decided that there is no connection between them, the Utah church having been declared an apostate from the original and this church the original.
Seventh Day Adventists.
'There are quite a good many Seventh Day Adventists at this writing in Columbus, who worship and have Bible classes in their church at 86 South Ohio avenue. Rev. Leslie Muntz is the pastor.
Non-Sectarian.
Churches which call themselves non-sectarian are as follows: Christian Faith church, 111 South Seventh, Rev. Fletcher Mills, pastor; Church of God, 21 North Central avenue; Church of God Mission, West Third avenue; Church of God and Saints of Christ, North Ohio avenue, Rev. Charles Dewett, pastor; King Avenue Nazarene, Rev. John Gould, pastor; Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, Brehl avenue, Rev. John Gould, pastor; United Taber- nacle, North Garfield avenue, Rev. F. H. Rositer, pastor.
CHAPTER XXVII. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
The Worthington Manufacturing Co. of 1812-20-The Ridgway Foundry- First Vehicle Making-Silk Manufacture-Franklin Foundry of John L. Gill-Making of Paper, Soap, Candles and Starch-Columbus Machine Co .- First Boot and Shoe-Making- Hayden Foundry-Ohio Tool Co .- Woolen Factory-Furniture, Sawes and Fencing- Columbus Buggy Co .- Regalia Manufacture-Agricultural Implements-Wage-Earners and Payroll in 1888-Natural and Artificial Stone-Brick, Sewer Pipe and Tile- Lumber and Mill Work- Shoe Industry-Glass Output-Horse-Drawn Vehicles and Automobiles-Oleomargarine- Breweries-Some Fathers of Industry-T'ast War Work in 1917-18, with a Pay Roll of Nearly $51,000,000.
Manufacturing in a small way and of the most primitive kind dates back almost to the first settlement. As narrated in the earlier chapters, there were mills for grinding the grain and for cutting logs. Whisky-making was one of the earliest industries ; mueh of the product was drunk, and there were times when a gallon of whisky was a standard of value. The first legitimate factory was the Worthington Manufacturing Co., which made supplies for the army in 1812, but collapsed in 1820. For short periods, mills were maintained for spinning cotton, dressing hemp and carding, spinning and weaving wool, none of them marked by any great success.
In 1822 J. Ridgway & Co. erected on Scioto street north of Broad street a foundry for the manufacture of plows and for the casting of all kinds of machinery. For nearly a third of a century this foundry existed in the Ridgway name and contributed largely to the devel- opment and prosperity of the city. In the early days all the pig metal used was hauled from the Granville furnace in a two-horse wagon which made three round trips a week. The motive power was one horse working in an inclined wheel about 30 feet in diameter. Char- coal was used for fuel. In 1830 Joseph Ridgway associated with himself in the business his nephew, Joseph Ridgway, jr. Steam was introduced as a motive power, and the firm made steam engines, stoves and machinery. The younger man died in 1850, after a busy and useful life in the community and the elder carried on the business till 1854, when he sold the plant to Peter Hayden.
In 1826 J. Ransberg, at a mill on the West Side, one mile south, produeed coarse cloth and linen. Peter Putnam, John and Samuel Cunning maintained tanneries. Conger's flour- ing mill and distillery stood on the east bank of the Scioto below the town. About the same time Gill & Greer engaged in the manufacture and sale of eopper, tin and sheet iron ware, while N. W. Smith established an oil mill and advertised for flaxseed. In 1828, James S. White advertised that he was prepared to make all kinds of coaches, wagons, hacks, and gigs. He made coaches for the Ohio Stage Co. and may be considered the pioneer in the great carriage-making industry. John D. Ball made saddles and harness about the same time and George Jeffries made chairs and wheels at his factory on High street. In 1831 Robert Talbot made lasts. Elijah Converse, who seems to have been the pioneer beermaker, was succeeded in 1832 by John Abbott & Co. In 1833 Daniel Roe made a silk handkerchief from his own cocoons and, apparently on the strength of his experiment Joseph Sullivant, Lyne Starling and Anthony S. Chew organized the Ohio Silk Co. in 1836, ereeted a frame build- ing and planted a large field with mulberry plants. In 1840 Jewett & Hall advertised for cocoons, urging that the State paid a bounty of 10 cents a pound for them. But the cocoons did not come, and the silk industry collapsed. Another effort of the time was to grow the sugar beet in paying quantities. That, too, failed in 1838.
In 1837 R. and S. Cutler made coaches and fancy carriages, and L. Hoster & Co. began making beer. In 1838, E. N. Sloeum made saddles, harness and trunks, and in 1839 John C. Deming made portable threshing machines, clover machines, etc.
The Franklin Foundry (John L. Gill, W. A. Gill and Henry Glover) had origin in 1838, the location being at Seioto and Town streets. In 1839 John MeCune took Glover's place in the coneern and the association continued till 1848 when MeCune retired, and John L. and W. A. Gill conducted it till 1852; then John L. alone till 1857, when the firm beeame
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Jolin L. Gill & Son. The early product of the foundry was stoves, plows and mill irons. Later a specialty was made of a combination steel plow, which was made in large quantities, as many as 4,000 a year. Railroad cars were also built.
Paper-making was carried on here from 1840 to 1849, first by Henry Roedter and John Siebert in a mill two miles north on the Scioto and later by Ernest Frankenberg and Asahel Chittenden, first at the mill just mentioned and later at a mill on the river just north of Broad street. The industry was at no time a great success.
In 1840 John Funston began the manufacture of soap and candles. In 1843 C. Colgate and J. J. Wood began the manufacture of starch; in 1846 Colgate sold his interest to Sumner Clark and the firm became Clark & Wood and so continued till 1849 when Mr. Wood bought his partner's interest and continued the business alone.
The use of prison labor had by this time become a burning issue. As early as 1835 protests against unfair competition with free labor were heard, and in 1841-41-45 they were repeated with vigor at meetings of workingmen. In 1814 Hayden & Morrison made carpets and O. P. and A. H. Pinney made agricultural implements, both with prison labor.
In 1849 Charles Ambos and James Lennox, with $8,000 established on West Broad street the Eagle Foundry, which they successfully conducted and sold in 1851 for $68,000 to a group of men who organized the Columbus Machine Manufacturing Co., with a capital of $80,000. Charles Ambos continued as superintendent, and Peter Ambos, John S. Hall, W. E. Ide, B. S. Brown and J. P. Bruck later became connected with it. It was and continued to be one of the sterling industries of the city.
The Ridgways and Pearl Kimball built in 1849 on the West Side near the Columbus & Xenia railroad track a shop for the manufacture of cars. Joseph Ridgway, jr., having died in the following year, the other two carried on the business successfully till 1856 when they were burned out. In 1857 Mr. Ridgway sold to Mr. Kimball, who continued the business alonc.
The manufacture of boots and shoes had become an important industry by 1849. In that year 200 hands were employed altogether, 60 of them in the factory of A. C. Brown. In the same year G. W. Peters-son of Tunis Peters and father of G. M. and O. G. Peters- established a trunk factory on West Long street. John R. Hughes learned trunk-making from him there and subsequently bought the business from Mr. Peters' widow, building up his own large and long-continued industry.
On the site of the old Ridgway foundry Peter Hayden erected, about 1850, a limestone building 200 feet long and in the center four stories high, the wings being lower. It was a chain factory, rolling mill and tannery combined. The products were bar and rod-iron, wire and saddlery hardware. Mr. Hayden successfully carried on the business for many years, employing several hundred hands.
The Ohio Tool Co., incorporated in 1851, with a capital stock of $190,000, engaged the energies in the carly days of George Gere, A. Thomas and C. H. Clark, while among its directors were Wm. A. Platt, J. R. Swan, P. Hayden and J. M. McCune. Its chief product for some time was carpenter's planes and it then employed about 200 workmen.
The Columbus Woolen Factory, incorporated in 1851, began operations the following year, with A. P. Stone, F. C. Kelton, Theodore Comstock, John Butler and James Lennox as directors. It was well equipped, consumed 52,000 pounds of wool annually and turned out a considerable variety of fabrics. It was never financially successful and when the mill, which was located by the canal at the foot of Mound street, was destroyed by fire, in 1870, the enterprise came to an end.
In 1853 Brotherlin & Halm began the manufacture of cabinet ware near the canal in the southwest part of the city, maintaining warerooms on High street. The factory was burned twice, first in 1856 and again in 1861, but was each time rebuilt. After Mr. Brother- lin's death in 1861, the firm became Halm, Ford & Stage and later Halm, Bellows & Butler.
A saw factory was operated carly in the 1850's at Spring and Water streets by Ohlen & Drake, and a coffee and spice mill was established by C. P. L. Butler about the same time. E. & H. F. Booth established a successful carriage factory at Third and Gay streets and in 1853 employed 15 persons and made 200 buggies a year. In 1865 they built a new factory and continued the business for a number of years. It was there that George M. Peters learned the buggy business, became an accomplished carriage painter and laid the foundations for a large manufacturing carcer.
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J. G. and M. Krumm in 1851 began making iron fencing in a shop on South High street near the present street car barns. J. A. Shannon in 1853 manufactured carriages at a factory on the east bank of the Scioto south of State street, at one time employing 350 hands. Brick-making became a considerable industry in 1853, 12 yards being unable to supply the demand that year and the next. The Columbus Cabinet Co. was organized in 1862; the Ohio Furniture Co. in 1866, both for the manufacture of furniture. In the same year David and J. C. Auld, Theodore Leonard, Henry Miller and Edward Hall incorporated a company for the manufacture of brick by steam.
Just after the Civil War George MI. Peters entered into partnership with Wm. and John Benns for the repairing and painting of carriages and horseshoeing in a shop on Third street near Town street. Later they bought out the Moore carriage shop on Town street and began to make carriages. They systematized the work so that they were able to sell carriages for half the usual price. In 1870 C. D. Firestone joined them with $5,000, which was soon sunk. Then Messrs. Peters and Firestone established in a small way the Iron Buggy Co. at the northeast corner of High street and Hickory alley and devoted their energies to mak- ing one kind of buggy. They succeeded so well with this that in 1875 they organized the Columbus Buggy Co. and Peters Dash Co., O. G. Peters becoming an active worker with them. The factory was established on the west side of High street, and the business grew at a prodigious rate until in 1890 the company was selling $2,000,000 worth of its product annually, exporting to many. countries. Decreasing demand for buggies resulted in a gradual decline of its business and the closing up of the concern about the turn of the century.
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