USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 67
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
The yearly extent of the business is approximately one million dollars. The distribution of products is mainly in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ken- tucky and West Virginia.
The present officers are: President, F. J. Ach; Vice-President, Edward Canby ; Secretary and Treasurer, Frank L. Canby. The above, with H. L. Canby of Dayton, and Samuel Ach and L. E. Ach of Cincinnati, constitute the board of directors.
THE OHIO FOUNDRY COMPANY.
THE OHIO FOUNDRY COMPANY was organized in 1901 by J. A. Gauthier, J. A. Wessalosky and Gus Stomps. After two years the plant burnt down. The company then leased the plant at the corner of State and Wayne streets and stayed there four years. It was then found necessary to secure other quarters, and in 1907 a new plant was erected on Second street between the Hydraulic and comprising the line of Montgomery, Clinton and Edgar streets.
During that time the Sterling Electric Motor Co. had been acquired by J. A. Gauthier and J. F. Westendorf, manufacturing a line of electric motors and generators. After the fire that plant was moved to the corner of Wayne and State streets, with the Ohio Foundry Co., and when the new plant was put up a machine shop was built so as to have the two factories together. The business has grown from the start steadily, so that in 1907 it was going at the rate of over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. At the present time the two companies are being combined. The output is gray iron castings, light and medium weight ; iron specialties in the way of finished products ; and a complete line of electric motors and generators of different types and voltages.
The new plant covers between six and ten acres, has good railroad facilities, and has a promising future.
The officers of the company are: President, J. A. Gauthier ; Secretary, J. F. Westendorf; Treasurer, John A. Wessalosky ; and Superintendent, J. W. Merkle.
THE GEM CITY STOVE COMPANY.
The works of the Gem City Stove Company are located on Linden avenue between Richard street and the Big Four railroad. The company was incor- porated May II, 1885.
The company manufacture a complete line of cooking and heating stoves and steel ranges, under the name "Clermont." They also manufacture gas stoves for cooking and heating, under the name "Perfect." Their annual business amounts to four hundred thousand dollars. Their products are sold principally in New England states, and in the central and northern states.
627
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The present officers are: President, Henry R. Gummer ; Vice-President, A. M. Gummer ; Secretary, A. J. Conover ; Assistant Secretary, C. H. Gummer.
THE COFFIELD MOTOR WASHER COMPANY.
This company originally was the firm of P. T. Coffield & Son, a partnership composed of Peter T. Coffield and James L. Coffield. They commenced in busi- ness about April 1, 1904, opening up a small assembling room and factory on Valley street for the manufacture of water motor washing machines. At that time there were no such washing machines on the market, consequently the field to be opened up was a new one and they were unable to interest capital in the ad- venture. It was therefore necessary to proceed in a small way on account of the limited means at their disposal. Their machines immediately met with remark- able success upon the market and they were compelled to move into larger quar- ters several times until they finally located in their present factory on east Fifth street about four years ago. The factory is a three story brick building contain- ing about eighteen thousand square feet of floor space.
The increase in the volume of business done by P. T. Coffield & Son was steady and shipments of the Coffield motor washers have been going not only to all parts of the United States and Canada but to nearly all foreign countries where water systems and general conditions permit of the use of such family washing machines.
By the early part of 1909 the business had developed to such a point that it became necessary to have increased capital to carry on the business and the Cof- field Motor Washer Company was organized with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars to take over the business of P. T. Coffield & Son. Both Mr. P. T. Coffield and J. L. Coffield, however, have retained the controlling interest in the business, the former being president and the latter vice-president of the pres- ent corporation. The company has branch houses established in some of the larger cities throughout the country, among the most important of which are those at Pittsburg and Minneapolis.
The firm of P. T. Coffield & Son was the first to introduce a water motor washing machine on the American market and the patents which they control on the different machines are of a pioneer nature. The remarkable success with which they have met has of course brought out more or less competition but dur- ing the past year they have been successful in three suits against their competitors which greatly enhances the value of their patents and insures increased business for the future.
During the time they have been in business the Coffield people have put out in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand motor washing machines, about six thousand of which are in regular use in the city of Dayton, alone. They have established agencies in all important cities in the United States and although their firm is small in comparison to some of the larger industries of our city they are doing their share to keep the city of Dayton, Ohio, before the general public as a large amount of money is spent each year in advertising the Coffield motor washing machines throughout the country.
628
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
THE OHMER FARE REGISTER COMPANY.
THE OHMER CAR REGISTER COMPANY was organized with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars in November, 1898. The incorporators and directors were John F. Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio; The Hon. Frederick Cook; Frederic P. Allen; Eugene H. Satterlee; John H. Stedman and William B. Farnham, of Rochester, New York.
The company was reorganized August 1, 1902, under the name of the Ohmer Fare Register Company, with a capital of one million five hundred thousand dollars. The incorporators and officers were the same as those of the Ohmer Car Register Company.
Both companies were incorporated and organized for the purpose of manu- facturing fare registers especially, and fixtures pertaining thereto, for the use in street and interurban railway cars and in other public conveyances.
John F. Ohmer, the president and general manager of the corporation, is the inventor of the original registers for indicating, recording and printing, separately, different denominations of fares collected in various types of railway cars. More patents have been granted to him, in the United States and by foreign governments, than to any other citizen of Dayton. Besides being the patentee of his own nu- merous inventions, Mr. Ohmer has been the executive head of the corporations bearing his family name since the initial organization.
From a modest beginning the Ohmer Fare Register Company has become the largest plant in the world for the manufacture of car registers and for other simi- lar devices. Its business extends throughout this and in foreign countries. Its fac- tory and executive offices are located in Dayton.
THE REYNOLDS & REYNOLDS COMPANY.
The nucleus of the present factory of The Reynolds & Reynolds Company was, in 1866, a job printing office of two cylinder and two job presses, with type outfit for the ordinary work of such an establishment ; installed by James R. Gardner and L. D. Reynolds, under the firm name of Gardner & Reynolds.
In addition to their other line, these parties started an afternoon paper called "The Dayton Chronicle," but for lack of capital were compelled to abandon it in a short time. The struggle to gain a footing was too great for Gardner and he retired the next year, selling his interest to Mr. Ira Reynolds, father of L. D. Reynolds, when the firm became Reynolds & Reynolds, and about this time they commenced to make duplicating sales checks, and were pioneers in that line, now so universally used in every business throughout this and other countries.
The first combination in this line was so bulky in its makeup that Mr. Ira Reynolds, who was a genius in mechanical manipulations, after a little study of the situation, produced a removable cover for them in 1869, which developed this line into a largely increased demand, applied, as it also was, to other commercial books, requiring more machinery and greater space for manufacturing.
The first location was in a two-story vacated fire engine house on First street, back of Turner's opera house, now the Victoria theatre, occupied for one year, then to the Osceola mill, as it was then known, on Fifth street, for three years,
629
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
then moved to a two-story brick where the Callahan power building is now lo- cated, for three years. It was here that the business received its initial impulse, and from a struggling concern grew so rapidly that more extensive quarters were needed, and the building at the north-east corner of Second and Jefferson streets being vacant, a lease of it for five years was taken, at more than three times the rental of the one they were in, and a steam power plant installed, but before that lease was to expire, another building was added, and before the renewed lease was out, all the ground available was covered by another addition, and for eighteen years all occupied, but railroad facilities being needed, the greater por- tion of the first J. P. Wolf building on First street was secured and occupied, but before the term for which taken had expired, they purchased a factory site lying between Washington street and the Pennsylvania railroad, with Dudley street on the east and the White Line Street Railway grounds on the west side ; and erected a building and installed an electrical plant, which they thought would be ample for some years, but were soon compelled to add to it, and also for the second time, increasing as well the power; the whole forming, with its lawn running three hundred feet to Washington street, and hedges on both sides, a very attractive plant.
From supplying a circumscribed territory at the commencement, their products, consisting of writing and pencil tablets, student's note and composition books, memorandums and counter books, salesmen order books and sheets, are sold in all parts of the United States, consuming for their fiscal year ending October 31, 1909, more than one hundred and fifty car loads of paper and other stock neces- sary for the goods made, employing a large force of salesmen and factory em- ployes ; the terms of service of many of them running from ten to forty consec- utive years.
The firm name of Reynolds & Reynolds was changed in 1889 by incorporation to The Reynolds & Reynolds Company.
THE DAVIS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY.
THE DAVIS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY was first organized at Watertown, New York, and incorporated under the laws of New York, February 3, 1868. Its factory was located in that city until "1889," when it was removed to a new plant at Dayton, which offered increased facilities for manufacture and a more favor- able location for the necessary supply of raw stock, fuel, etc.
The Dayton plant has been increased in size from year to year and additional ground purchased, so that it is now nearly four times its original size. The build- ings comprise over fourteen acres of floor space, and are of the most modern type, airy and well lighted and equipped throughout with the latest improved machinery for every class of work required, and affording a capacity of manufacturing over a quarter of a million sewing machines annually.
In 1894 the company determined to add the manufacture of bicycles, and its product, the well known Dayton bicycle, became instantly popular, and has been sold in large quantities in all parts of the world.
Within the past three years this company has also added another department
630
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
to this plant for the manufacture of automatic screw machines and other machine tools, which is now assuming large proportions.
In 1896, the company was reincorporated under Ohio laws and nearly the entire capital stock is now owned by residents of the city of Dayton. Its capital stock is one million two hundred thousand dollars.
The officers of the company are: President, F. T. Huffman ; Vice-President, S. H. Carr ; Secretary, J. B. Parmelee ; Treasurer, G. H. Gorman; and its board of directors include with the above, Messrs. E. J. Barney, J. W. Stoddard, Judge O. B. Brown, O. M. Gottschall, of Dayton, and Theodore Kundtz, of Cleveland, Ohio.
The number of employees is about fifteen hundred, the annual wage account approximately one million dollars, value of raw material consumed one million two hundred thousand dollars, value of finished product two million five hundred thousand dollars, value of physical property two million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, approximate floor space fourteen and one-half acres.
THE DAYTON MALLEABLE IRON COMPANY.
THE DAYTON MALLEABLE IRON COMPANY was established in the year 1866 in the east end as a malleable and gray iron foundry by Charles Newbold and Peter Loeb. In 1869 the company was incorporated, and at the first meeting of the stockholders on July 1, 1869, Edwin A. Parrott, H. E. Parrott, and Charles New- bold were elected directors. The board of directors met on the same day and an organization was effected by the election of President, Edwin Parrott, Treas- urer, H. E. Parrott; Superintendent, Charles Newbold. These directors and offi- cers were re-elected in Janury, 1870, and again in January, 1871, with the ex- ception of Mr. Newbold. At this meeting January 2, 1871, E. A. Parrott, H. E. Parrott and Peter Loeb were elected directors, and the three served as president, treasurer and superintendent respectively until July 3, 1876, on which date a meet- ing of the stockholders was held, and E. A. Parrott, H. E. Parrott and T. P. Gaddis were elected directors, with E. A. Parrott, president and H. E. Parrott, treasurer of the company, all of whom were re-elected and served as directors and officers until February 1, 1862. At a meeting of the stockholders on this date, Edwin A. Parrott tendered his resignation as a director, and president of the company. At this meeting John W. Stoddard, Charles A. Phillips, William H. Simms, Robert C. Schenck, Jr., Thomas P. Gaddis and H. E. Parrott were elected directors.
At a meeting of the board of directors on September 4, 1882, Thomas P. Gaddis was elected president, and H. E. Parrott, secretary and served until August 1, 1882, when Robert C. Schenck, Jr., was elected president ; Charles A. Phillips, vice-president and treasurer, and Thomas P. Gaddis, general superin- tendent and secretary.
At a meeting of the board of directors on July 7, 1885, the resignation of H. E. Parrott as a director was accepted, and Mr. E. Fowler Stoddard was elected to fill the vacancy. He served in this capacity until his death in 1887.
At a meeting of the stockholders on January 10, 1888, four of the old mem- bers of the board of directors were again re-elected, namely, Robert C. Scheneck,
DAVIS SEWING MACHINE WORKS
633
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Charles A. Phillips, John W. Stoddard, and Thomas P. Gaddis. At this meet- ing Samuel W. Davies was elected as the fifth member of the board. On April 29, 1889, Mr. Phillips tendered his resignation as director and vice-president and on January 14, 1890, William B. Earnshaw was elected as a director.
At the meeting of the board of directors on the same day, a reorganiza- tion was affected by the election of the following officers: President, Robert C. Schenck, Jr .; Vice-President and General Superintendent, Thomas P. Gaddis ; Secretary, William B. Earnshaw; Treasurer, Dayton National Bank.
These officers were all re-elected each following year, and served in their respective capacities until 1902. In 1896 J. Sprigg McMahon was elected a mem- ber of the board of directors, and at the annual reorganization on January 21, 1902, the following officers were elected: President, R. C. Schenck; Vice-Presi- dent and General Manager, W. B. Earnshaw; Second Vice-President, T. P. Gaddis; Secretary, P. D. Schenck; Treasurer, Adolph Heinz.
On October 15, 1902, Robert C. Schenck died, and at a meeting of the board of directors on November 7, 1902, W. B. Earnshaw was elected president ; Peirce D. Schenck, vice-president and assistant general manager; W. H. Cassel, secretary. At this meeting O. J. Needham was elected director to fill the vacancy caused by the death of R. C. Schenck.
At the annual reorganization on January 21, 1903, Edwin P. Mathews was elected director of the company. On October 31, 1906, the president, W. B. Earnshaw died and at the annual reorganization on January 15, 1907, the fol- lowing were elected directors, namely: Peirce D. Schenck, S. W. Davies, J. Sprigg McMahon, T. P. Gaddis, E. P. Mathews, W. H. Cassel.
At this meeting, Peirce D. Schenck was elected president; S. W. Davies, vice-president ; W. H. Cassel, secretary; Adolph Heinz, treasurer. The above- named directors and officers have been re-elected each year, and are serving in their respective capacities at the present time.
In 1872 the business was removed to its present location on West Third street, and in order to take care of the increasing trade, more ground was purchased from time to time, and additional buildings erected, until the plant reached its present extensive proportions, immediately west of the Pennsylvania railroad from Fourth avenue to Monument avenue, and has an annual capacity of twenty- five thousand tons of finished castings. The number of men employed is fifteen hundred.
Taking into account the very large proportion of small castings produced, the company ranks first in its line in the United States and in the world.
The capital stock of the company was increased from time to time, and in January, 1905, to one million dollars, its present capitalization.
THE F. A. REQUARTH COMPANY.
THE REQUARTH & MEYER COMPANY was formed in 1864 by Mr. F. A. Requarth and Mr. Henry W. Meyer for the purpose of running a wood turning shop for the manufacture of octagon, hexagon and round stair balusters, newels and all kinds of stair and porch materials.
634
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
After one year of successful business, Mr. Henry W. Meyer withdrew from the firm and his place was taken by Mr. August Meyer. After about six years, Mr. Henry Hessler was taken in as a partner, and the firm name was changed to Requartlı, Hessler and Co.
This organization took place in rooms in what was then known as the Beaver & Butt building, on St. Clair street, the company taking additional space as they prospered.
In 1875, Mr. August Meyer withdrew from the firm and Mr. Conrad W. Schaeffer became a partner. After twelve years of prosperous business, Mr. F. A. Requarth acquired the interests of Mr. Hessler and Mr. Schaeffer, and asso- ciated with him his son Mr. Henry W. Requarth and a nephew, Mr. H. W. Huef- felmann, and took the firm name of F. A. Requarth & Company.
This business was carried on at this point for ten years when Mr. H. W. Huef- felmann withdrew and was succeeded by Mr. William H. Meyer.
In 1890 these men and Mr. Michael F. Sherer and Mr. Henry J. Kramer formed a stock company under the laws of the state of Ohio, and were incor- porated ivith a capital stock of forty thousand dollars, taking the name of The F. A. Requarth Co. At this time, also, they branched out into a general contract- ing business, and finding their quarters too small at their point on St. Clair street, moved to the corner of Pine and Marshall streets, to the building formerly occu- pied by the Ohio Rake Works.
Their business continued to grow, and they felt a need for ample quarters for the storage of lumber so that in 1895 they then purchased the mill and yards of the C. Wight & Son on the corner of Monument avenue and Sears street.
Very soon after moving they added to the buildings, increasing their capacity over one hundred per cent.
Since that time increasing business has demanded the increase in buildings and machinery so that today they have, perhaps, the largest mill in southern Ohio, especially equipped for the manufacture of all kinds of stair and porch work as well as other interior finish. They have also in connection with their mills ample lumber yard capacity for handling a very large business.
It has always been the policy of the company to produce the best quality of work at prices which would justify that, and, consequently they have built up a very substantial patronage.
The company are shipping stock today all over the country, having recently completed the interior fittings of the city court building of New Orleans and the new museum of fine arts at Boston.
THE DAYTON BREWERIES COMPANY.
THE DAYTON BREWERIES COMPANY represents the amalgamation of the prin- cipal brewing interests of the city. The company was organized March 1, 1904, with a capital stock of two million five hundred thousand dollars. The officers are : President, Adam S. Schantz; Secretary and Treasurer, Louis L. Wehner.
The breweries included in this merger are: The Stickle Brewery, founded over forty years ago by Jacob Stickle; The Adam Schantz Brewery on River street, established in 1882; The N. Thomas Brewery, on east First street; The
635
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Schwind Brewery, probably the oldest brewery in the city, established in 1855, on Logan street and removed in 1867 to Dayton View ; The Schantz and Schwind Brewery, located in 1889 on south Perry street; The Wehner Brewery, estab- lished in 1900, on Wayne avenue, and removed subsequently to Concord and Sco- ville streets; The Dayton Brewery, at Wyandotte near Fifth street.
The aggregate capacity approximates a quarter of a million of barrels an- nually. The offices of the company are located at Nos. 250-263 Arcade building.
THE SEYBOLD MACHINE COMPANY.
This company was established in 1890 by Charles Seybold. The officers are : President, Charles Seybold; Vice-President and Secretary, Frederick Bradmiller ; Treasurer, Frank H. Herbst. The goods manufactured are bookbinders' and printers' machinery, paper cutters, embossers, book compressors, book trimmers, die cutting presses, and so forth. The products of this company are sold all over the world. The number of employees is one hundred and eighty. Extensive enlargements to meet growing demands are in contemplation.
THE COOPER HEATER COMPANY.
THE COOPER HEATER COMPANY was organized on July 6, 1907, under the laws of the state of Ohio, for the purpose of manufacturing city and interurban car heaters and hot water and steam house heaters. On July 1, 1909, a re- organization was effected with capitalization of fifty thousand dollars. This company manufactures a car heater which has met with remarkable success, and has supplied a long felt want to the operators of city and interurban cars on account of the very small amount of floor space the heaters occupy, and the mini- mum amount of coal consumed as compared with the cost of operating the elec- tric heaters, which, previous to the introduction of the Cooper heater, were the only method of heating cars which did not occupy a great deal of valuable floor space.
The concern has grown rapidly and this year's business has exceeded that of all the previous years combined.
The company is now planning extensive improvements to meet all conditions and larger requirements. The plant is located on the corner of Chapel and Kiser streets.
THE PASTEUR-CHAMBERLAND COMPANY.
This company was incorporated in December, 1887, for the manufacture of the "Pasteur Germ Proof Water Filter." This filter, invented by the French chemist, M. Louis Pasteur, is made of porcelain tubes resembling a candle, having no opening except at one end through which the purified water is dis- charged. The Pasteur-Chamberland company has the exclusive right for the manufacture of this famous filter in the United States.
The company, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, has had a pros- perous history, the extent of its manufacture and distribution causing it to be
636
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
recognized as a world leader in the manufacture of filters. It furnished all the water filters used at the world's fair of 1893.
On October 20, 1909, the plant on East First street was destroyed by fire. The present officers of the company are: President and Treasurer, H. H. Bimm; Vice-President, Aaron Blau ; Secretary, J. E. Bimm.
THE KINNARD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
In 1879 Peter Aulabaugh, Wm. E. Crume and John W. Sefton formed a co- partnership under the name of Aulabaugh, Crume & Company, for the manu- facture of folding boxes and paper pails. They were the originators of these lines and soon found a ready market for their product. After the death of Mr. Aulabaugh in 1882 the company was reorganized under the name of Crume & Sefton Manufacturing Company and the business was continued under this name for several years, when it was amalgamated into The Carter-Crume Com- pany, and became one of the branches of that million dollar corporation, the Day- ton Company taking the name of The Kinnard Manufacturing Company, with Will M. Kinnard as its president. Later the company became independent, and no longer retains its connection with that corporation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.