History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 42

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 42

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The first manufacturing industry in the settlement at the Forks of the Scioto was that of milling. Even this did not begin until some years after the first cabins were erected. The only breadstuff attainable was corn, which the settlers ground in a handmill or cracked by pounding, in the manner already related. There was no gristmill nearer than Chillicothe, and to this occasional trips were made by trail through the wilderness. In 1799 or 1800 a sort of mill was erected by Robert Balentine on the brook known as Lizard Creek, which poured into the Scioto not far from the present terminus of Gay Street.1 John D. Rush about the same time erected a like primitive mill on the Scioto a short distance above Frank- linton.º Both of these were very crude establishments and soon fell into decay. A horsemill was then resorted to until 1805, when a gristmill was erected by James Kilbourn, near Worthington.3 Carpenter's mill on the Whetstone, in Dela- ware County, and Dyer's on the Olentangy (Darby), were erected about the same time.' A mill built by Lucas Sullivant in 1819, stood and still stands on the west bank of the Scioto, northwest of the present City Waterworks. S. S. Rickly became proprietor of this mill in 1856, after which event it was known as Rickly's Mill. It was propelled solely by water until 1853. In 1858 the establishment

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bore the name of " Ohio Manufacturing Company," and was worked by half a dozen men.5

Of the Worthington Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1811, a full account has been given in a preceding chapter. This enterprise flourished so long as supplies were needed for the War of 1812, but embraced other business than manufacturing, was too extensive and complex in its operations, and succumbed in 1820. A sawmill erected on the east bank of the Scioto by Richard Courtney and John Shields in 1813, and a flouring mill built three years later by Shields on Peters's Run, have also been mentioned. The Shields gristmill was driven by water conducted in a race to an overshot wheel. After doing good service for some years, these mills went to ruin. The Freeman's Chronicle of September 3, 1813, mentioned that " a new fulling mill " was in course of erection on the east side of the Scioto, " five miles from Franklintou, near Mr. Backus's sawmills." James Kooken, " keeper of the Ohio Penitentiary," thus advertised under date of August 22, 1815 :

The following articles are manufactured and kept constantly on band at this establish- ment, viz : Cooper Ware of all kinds: Coarse and Fine Shoes, Cut Nails and Brads, Wrought Nails and Spikes of every description. In a short time we expect to be able to furnish the public with Axes, Hoes, Chains, &c., of various kinds; which, together with the above articles, can he afforded on better terms than they have ever been procured in this part of the country.6

Martin mentions that along the ravine of Peters's Run were established " in succession a number of breweries, distilleries, tanyards and ashery" which subse- quently disappeared. Among the earliest breweries were Converse's, located on the west side of Front Street, just north of Spring, and Massie & Wood's, which occupied the present site of the Gas and Coke Company's office. In 1819, says Martin, " Moses Jewett, Caleb Houston and John E. Baker erected on the Scioto, just above Rich Street, a sawmill upon a new patent plan. The saw was circular, and was to eut constantly ahead, with no back strokes." This experiment, after costing a good deal, failed. Martin continues :

In 1821 Colonel Jewett and Judge Hines commenced the manufacturing of cotton yarn by horse power in a frame building on Front Street, between Rich and Friend, and after experimenting with that some time, and also with the circular saw in the mill, the spinning machinery was removed into the mill, where the spinning was continued by water power a few years. But finally the whole concern was abandoned, and for near twenty years there has not been a vestige of the building to show where it stood. The frame on Front Street, where they first commenced the cotton spinning, was for many years known as the "old factory." About this time, Judge Hines having invented a machine for dressing hemp, in an unrotted state, in 1822 he and William Bain constructed and put into operation one of the machines at the southeast corner of High Street and South Public Lane. It was propelled by horse power on a tread wheel. It after some time passed into the hands of Lafayette Tib- bitts, who worked it until the fall of 1824, when he failed, and the whole concern went down. About the year 1822, a woolen factory, for carding, spinning and weaving, was commenced by Ebenezer Thomas and others, on the west end of the lot now (1858), owned by Colonel S. W. Andrews, corner of High and Noble streets. It was worked first by ox then by horse- power on a tread wheel. It passed through the hands of different owners without profit to any. About the year 1834 or '35 the building and machinery were removed and reerected

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THE MIC.LILLEY &CO

MANUFACTURES.

REGALIA

THE REGALIA.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

by George Jeffries, on the west ahutment of the canal dam, were it was worked by water power, some two or three years, when the machinery was sold out by piece meal under the hammer ; and so ended that manufacturing establishment. About the year 1831 or '32, John McElvain erected a steam sawmill at the head of the canal where Hunter's warehouse after- ward stood. It was worked by various persons (it is believed without much profit), for some seven or eight years, when the engine and machinery were disposed of, and the warehouse erected over it - the mill frame answering as part of the warehouse. In 1843 the warehouse was totally consumed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt. The first successful manufactur- ing establishment, other than common mechanic shops, was the foundry and plough manu- factory of Mr. [Joseph] Ridgway, established in 1822.

On May 16, 1822, Messrs. J. Ridgway & Co., made the following announement by advertisement :

The subscribers, having erected a foundry in the town of Columbus, manufacture and keep constantly for sale [Jethro] Wood's Plongh, which, for durability and ease for the team, is not equaled by any other plough in use. . .. They will last ten or fifteen years, except share, which will merely require renewing every one or two years. The shares can be had at the foundry . . . from 44 to 68 cents, according to the No. of the plough ; the farmer can put them on himself, without removing his plough from the field. . . . All kinds of machinery casting done on the shortest notice.

A fulling mill, by J. Ransburg, near Columbus, is mentioned in 1822; also the manufacture of horn eombs, by Levi Buttles. In 1826 the Ransburg establish- ment produced coarse cloth and linen. It was located about one mile south of the town, west of the Scioto. One of the earliest tanyards was that of Peter Putnam, located on the northwest corner of Front and Rich streets. Two tan- neries, one owned by Cunningham and one by Osborn, lay within the space between High and Park streets. In 1825 Conger's flouring mill and distillery stood in the hollow back of Hoster's brewery. Jenkins's pottery was the first. It stood opposite Putnam's tannery, on Front Street. Gill & Greer (John L. Gill); were engaged in the manufacture and sale of copper, tin and sheetiron ware in November, 1826. In the same year David Dean, who was then carrying on the business of coachmaking " in the village of Buffalo, New York," announced that Jarvis Pike had been appointed as his agent to introduce the business in Columbus. In 1827 N. W. Smith informed the public that he had established an oil mill in Columbus, and wanted to buy flaxseed. Concerning the Ridgway foundry, of this period, we have these statements from Mr. John L. Gill :

When I came here in 1826, Ridgway's foundry was the only manufacturing establish- ment in the place. For several years all the pig metal used was hauled from the Granville furnace in a twohorse wagon, which made three round trips a week, aggregating about five tons in that time. This was principally used in the manufacture of plows. The motive power of the establishment was an old horse working in an inclined wheel of about thirty feet in diameter. The fuel used for melting the iron was charcoal.7

The original Ridgway Foundry was a frame building which stood on the present site of its successor, the Hayden establishment, on Scioto Street. Near it was a big spring, now smothered. Martin makes the following record of the origin and development of this concern :

It was commenced in the spring of 1822 by Joseph Ridgway, then from the State of New York. For some years he used horse power instead of steam, and the principal article

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MANUFACTURES.

of manufacture was Jethro Wood's patent plow, of which he made and sold an immense number. It was then considered the best plow in use. Abont the first of January, 1830, he having associated with him his nephew, Joseph Ridgway, jr., they introduced into their factory steam instead of horse power, and extended their business to the manufacturing of machinery, steam engines, stoves, etc., etc. For many years they did an extensive business, giving employment to about fifty or sixty hands generally. Joseph Ridgway, jr., having died in 1850, the business was continued successfully by the surviving partner and adminis_ trator, until the spring of 1854, when he sold out and transferred the whole establishment to Peter Hayden, Esq., since which it has been owned and conducted by Mr. Hayden.

In May, 1828, James S. White advertised that he was prepared to make all kinds of coaches, wagons, hacks and gigs, postcoaches being his speciality. IIis shop stood on the present southwest corner of Broad and Wall streets, and was the leading establishment of the kind in the town. Mr. White furnished coaches to the Ohio Stage Company, and may be considered the pioneer of the great carriagemaking industry of Columbus. John D. Ball carried on the manufacture of saddles and harness about the same time on High Street, second door south of the markethonse. A newspaper writer of January 17, 1829, suggests the utiliza- tion of the Columbus Feeder as a water power for milling purposes, and rein- forces his argument by these statements: "The people of Columbus have recently paid fifty cents for a bushel of cornmeal, when corn was worth but twelve and a half cents - three dollars per hundred for flour when wheat sold for fifty cents per bushel." The tannery of John and Samuel Cunning, deceased, offered at sheriff's sale in February, 1829, comprised thirtyfour vats and two pools. It was situated on inlots 130, 131 and 132. A " large, neverfailing spring " was men- tioned as one of the attractions of the premises. In April, 1829, George Jeffries was engaged in making chairs and wheels at his new shop on High Street, " a few doors south of the woolen factory." In February, 1831, Isaac Taylor & Sons announced a new tannery on Water Street, north of Ridgway's foundry and south of James Wood's brewery. Lastmaking was about the same time carried on by Robert Talbott " in.the house recently occupied by John Greenwood, the first door south of J. Armstrong's Tavern." All kinds of " woolen machinery " were manufactured by P. Wright, at Worthington. Wilson's tannery was situated on High Street, at or near the present site of the Butler building. In 1832 John Abbott & Co., successors to Elijah Converse, conducted the Columbus brewery, corner of Front and Spring streets.

In 1833 the production and fabrication of silk began to engage considerable attention as a possible local industry. A pocket handkerchief exhibited by Daniel Roe as a product of fibre from his own cocoons attracted notice as a har- binger to the new industrial faith, and in 1836 we read of the Ohio Silk Company, of which Joseph Sullivant, Lyne Starling, Junior, and Anthony S. Chew were members. This company erected a frame factory near Franklinton, planted a large field with mulberry plants, and established an office in the Exchange Buildings. In 1840 Jewett & Hall advertised that they would pay cash for cocoons of good quality delivered at their store in Columbus, and added : "As the State pays a bounty of ten cents per pound to the producer, it has become an object for all those who are raising the mulberry to feed worms this season."

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But the bounty of the State failed to produce the conditions necessary to the profitable production of silk in Columbus, and the whole undertaking failed, with serious loss to those engaged in it. The production of the sugar beet, spoken of by Martin as "another wild chimera introduced about this time," also failed, of course, since the qualities of climate and soil essential to the success of this industry did not exist in Central Ohio. The end of the sugar beet experiment dates from 1838.

In 1837 we read of the " Coach and Faney Carriage Manufactory" of R. & S. Cutler, which occupied a large frame building on the southeast corner of High Street and Lynn Alley. Messrs. Cutler advertised the production of " barouches, chariotees, gigs and sulkies of every description;" also "a supply of elliptic springs and axletree arms turned." L. Hoster & Co's City Brewery figures among the advertisements of 1837; in 1838 we read of the "Saddle, Harness and Trunk Factory " of Edward N. Slocum, at 27 High Street, "opposite the Publie Buildings." In 1839 John C. Deming was announced as a manufacturer of "portable thrashing machines, clover machines and horse powers." His estab- lishment was situated near the Ridgway foundry. Of the Franklin Foundry we find the following account in Martin's History :

Generally known by the name of "Gill's Foundry " [it] was commenced in 1838, by John L. Gill, William A. Gill and Henry Glover. In 1839, John MeCune took the place of Mr. Glover, and the firm of Gill & McCune continued till May, 1848. From that time the business continued by J. L. & W. A Gill, till July, 1852, since which time it was con- ducted solely by Mr. John L. Gill, until July, 1857, when he associated with him his son, J. L. Gill, Jr. This establishment commenced business with about twentyfive hands, and was principally engaged in the maufacture of stoves, plows and mill irons, and did a success- ful business. For the last few years, the establishment gave employment generally to from sixty to seventyfive persons. In 1855, Mr. Gill commenced the manufacture of his celebrated combination steel plow, and is now [1858] manufacturing near four thousand per year. The amount of capital invested in the establishment is estimated at $50,000.

The location of the Franklin Foundry and Machine Shop was at the corner of Scioto and Town streets ; among its productions were wood and coal stoves, coal grates, furnaces for hotels and dwellings, plows, millgearing and " machinery of all descriptions." A contemporary concern was that of William Neil & Co., engaged in the manufacture and repair of stagecoaches.

Martin's history contains this passage :

About 1839 or '40, a paper mill was erected by Henry Roedter and John Siebert, on the Seioto, some two or three miles above Franklinton, where they for some time carried on the paper making business. It did not, however, succeed well, and Roedter soon passed out of the concern, and removed to Cincinnati. It was then for a time owned and worked by Sie- bert and Ernst Frankenberg, and succeeded no better. It then passed into the hands of Asahel Chittenden, who abandoned the old site and building, and in the fall of 1845, removed the machinery to a new brick building erected for that purpose, just above the national road bridge, in Columbus, where it was worked for some time by J. L. Martin and R. H. Hub- bell, and then by William Murphy until it was destroyed by fire, in 1848. It was then rebuilt and worked by Mr. A. B. Newburgh, until the fall of 1849, when it finally closed its business. The same building was afterwards converted into a machine shop, owned by Messrs. Swan and Davis, and in July, 1854, it was again destroyed by fire-building machin- ery and all.

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This establishment was known as the Franklin Paper Factory. In Novem- ber, 1838, the Columbus Brewery, formerly Converse's, became the property of John Keating. John Funston was a soap and candle manufacturer of 1840, located " near the new courthouse." In the autumn of 1841, E. Converse & Co. converted the brick warehouse of Doherty & Leiby into a steam flouringmill with " four run of burrs." The proprietors announced that they would make flour for customers and " exchange superfine flour and bran for wheat" on the following terms : " Receive wheat and barrel (free of charge) and manufacture flour at fifty cents per barrel or twentyfive cents including offal ; exchange thirtyfour pounds of flour and onchalf bushel bran for a bushel of wheat."

Of the origin of the manufacture of starch at Columbus Martin gives the fol- lowing account :

In 1843, Messrs. C. Colgate and J. J. Wood, having purchased N. Gregory's distillery and grounds, converted the same into a starch factory and commenced the manufacturing of starch under the firm name of C. Colgate & Co. In 1846 Colgate's interest was transferred to Sumner Clark, and the business continued by Clark and Wood until 1849, when Mr. Wood

KILBOURNE & JACOBS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

bought ont Clark's interest, and the business has since been conducted by Mr. Wood alone. In 1852, the whole establishment was consumed by fire. The rebuilding, however, was soon commenced, and in June, 1853, the manufactory was again in operation ; since which it has been doing a very useful, and, it is presumed, a profitable business, giving employment to abont fifty hands, and using over two hundred bushels of corn per day.8

In 1844, Hayden, Morrison & Co. manufactured carpets at the Ohio Peniten- tiary, and in the same year O. P. & A. H. Pinney were producers of agricultural implements. The store of Messrs. Pinney was at the corner of Broad and High streets. A rope and cordage factory was managed in 1844 by Mrs. E. J. Mid- dleton.

Referring to the stagecoach manufactory of Messrs. Neil, Moore & Co., the Ohio Statesman of August 27, 1845, said: " We mentioned the other day that two

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new coaches called Cave Johnson and the George M. Dallas, had been constructed at this establishment. A third is now almost completed to be called Sam. Medary, in honor of our able and distinguished predecessor." The factory at that time employed forty workmen and occupied two buildings, each 180 feet in length. The construction of railway cars was about to be added to that of coaches.

On April 30, 1846, William H. Brodrick announced that he had taken the tin, copper and sheetiron ware manufactory " formerly conducted by E. Ayers on High Street, opposite the State buildings." Mr. Brodrick had learned the busi- ness with its founders, Robert E. Neil and Ellis Ayers.

The steam sawmill of M. L. Sullivant, located three miles west of Columbus, becomes conspicuous in the autumn of 1846. On June 10 1847, the Ohio State Journal remarked :

Until a very recent period it seems to have been taken for granted that very little manu- facturing could be done here. But improvements in machinery in connection with steam, are destined we hope to introduce among us as much manufacturing enterprise as is desir- able. Last year an excellent paper mill was put in operation. This year our enterprising fel- low citizen, Mr. P. Hayden, is erecting a large stone factory over 200 feet in length, which will employ a large number of workmen. These are but the beginning of what may be looked for in a few years.

The manufacture of illuminating gas had its incipiency in 1846: In May, 1847, the Columbus Paper Mill was leased by R. H. Hubbell to Everhardt & Barr. A new iron foundry, by Cole & Standish, at the north end of Front Street, is advertised in 1847. The Western Marble Works, owned by Doctor Ide and man- aged by E. K. Bedwell, obtain mention in 1848, which year seems to have been a notable one for new manufacturing enterprises. Among the more prominent industries which sprang up about this time were the plane factory of Case & Hall, Murphy's Paper Mill, near the Scioto River bridge, Hayden's Chain Factory, on State Avenue, and the new foundry of Messrs. Ambos & Lennox -on the National Road (Broad Street), Franklinton-of which Martin says :

This manufacturing establishment was commenced by Charles Ambos and James Len- nox,9 in 1849, with a capital of some eight or ten thousand dollars. It was designated by the name of Eagle Foundry, and the firm by that of Ambos & Lennox. After continuing the business until the spring of 1854, they sold out for upwards of $68,000; and it was converted into a joint stock company, by its present name [Columbus Machine Manufacturing Com- pany]. The present [1858] company commenced with about thirty stockholders and a capi- tal of $80,000 They subsequently increased their capital to $100,000. The company employ about 125 men on an average, the year round, and pay to their officers and hands about 84,000 on the first day of each month, and turn out in machinery and castings from $140,000 to $150,000 a year. This company put up the iron frame work for the roofing of the State House, all the iron ceiling, galleries and railings in the same. The ground occupied by the company is three hundred and twenty by 185 feet. Charles Ambos is, and has been the Superintendent from the commencement. Samuel Galloway was the first president, but being elected to Congress in 1854, he was succeeded by that experienced manufacturer, John S. Hall, Esq. 11. Crary was treasurer and secretary until January, 1857; when he was suc- ceeded by P. Ambos as treasurer, and F. G. Jones as secretary. Joseph Coffin has been chief foreman ever since the commencement. The present directors are, John S. Hall, P. Ambos, W. E. Ide, F. J. Matthews, Amos McNairy, B. S. Brown, J. P. Bruck.

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The Eagle Foundry building was two stories in height, with a frontage of eightyfour feet on the National Road and 118 feet on the Scioto River. The upper story was occupied by the machine and fitting departments. The furnace had capacity for melting 3,000 pounds of metal per hour. Steam engines, plows and all kinds of eastings were produced. About twentyfive workmen were employed in the establishment.

The Fountain Paper Mill was put into operation during the summer of 1849 by A. B. Newburgh. It occupied a threestory brick building at the corner of Broad and Water streets and was capable of producing 150 reams of double medium printing paper per week. Wool carding " by steam power " was carried on in 1849 by William Parker, on the northern part Fourth Street. A contemporary carriage . manufactory by Blake, Domigan & Co. was situated on the corner of Front Street and Sugar Alley, between State and Town streets. Hayden's rollingmill figures extensively in the advertisements of 1849. The Ohio Statesman of May 18, that year said :

The Messrs. Ridgway of this city have commenced piling up the material for a new and very extensive manufactory of Railroad Cars, &c. Their new establishment is to be located on the west side of the Scioto, immediately on the line of the Columbus & Xenia Railroad, so that the newly made cars can be put immediately on the track. We understand they have a large contract for the manufacture of cars.

Pearl Kimball, an experienced ear manufacturer of Massachusetts, was associated with Messrs. Ridgway in this enterprise. Martin says :

They made extensive and costly buildings and preparations west of the river, by the side of the railroad, and went very extensively into the business under the firm name of Ridgways & Kimball. Their cars were of the first quality, and in extensive demand. In 1850 Mr. Ridg- way, jr., died, but the business was continned by the other two partners successfully, until the spring of 1856, when their main building and its contents were entirely destroyed by fire They never rebuilt it, but continued the business on a smaller scale, until about the first of Janu- ary, 1857, when Mr. Ridgway sold out his interest to Mr. Kimball, who has since continued the business alone. Before the destruction by fire, they generally gave employment to about eighty men.

In May, 1849, Orlopp & Wirth announced a new cigar factory at 205 High Street, " two doors north of General Gale's Hotel and next to 'Squire Bruck's office." A contemporary " machine and blacksmith shop," by Lennox & Hegin- botham, was situated "opposite the northwest corner of the Neil House." The manufacture of boots and shoes had also by this time become an important local industry. Referring to it, the Ohio Statesman of November 21 says :

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 42

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196