History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 149

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 149

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The first Taverns kept by Germans, were in 1854, by M. Schoenacker and Ph. Kreiter, on Water Street ; then by Peter Kohler, on Summit. Many others in- tervened, until now the llanner House, on Washing- ton Street ; the National Hotel, by Herman Banm- bach ; and Hotel Union, managed by Charles Zirwas, are considered the most prominent.

FARMING AND GARDENING.

So many Germans settled in Lucas County and went to farming and gardening, that it would be al- most unjust to single ont any name for special men- tion. The whole " Six-Mile Woods," in the Western part of the County, were cleared and improved by - them; and there is hardly a section of it, but shows signs of their labor and thrift. Of those living near- est to the City on the North side, Adam Meissner has been distinguished by awards at many Fairs for his efforts in raising improved cattle and fruit. In the same vicinity Ernst Torgler, George and Joe Engel, Henry Brodbeck and Nic. Braun, have of late years been measurably successful .. Koenig and Severin have long held the lead among the Dairies, and the Bergers and Yoesslins supplied the early settlers with vegetables, as the Wenz, John Hague, A. Reiching and other market gardeners do now.

In Horticulture and as Florists, F. C. Hansen has been at the head since 1849, and Bernhard Schramm, Ewald Snder (and his widow, Henrietta, since his death), and G. A. Heinl, have followed closely.

VINICULTURE.

The Lenk Wine Company, whose extensive works and attractive grounds are located on the North bank of Ottawa River, fronting Detroit Avenue, is one of Toledo's most prominent institutions, which has grown from a small beginning to be one of the most important of its kind in the United States. From 1859 to 1861, F. C. Hansen was engaged here with Peter Lenk in improving a Nursery, started some time before. Mr. Carl Lenk, who came to Toledo in

1853, was in 1867, and for several years previons thereto, connected with his brother, Peter Lenk, in this Nursery business, at the present location of the Lenk Wine Company. In the latter year he con- cluded to utilize his knowledge of Wine-making, ac- quired at his native place, Wuerzburg, in Bavaria, the home of some of the finest of German wines. Quite a number of acres of the Nursery grounds hav- ing previously been planted in grapevines, he com- menced active operations in a small way in the fall of 1867, when the first fruit of the young vines was cut; in addition to which he bought a quantity of Catawba Grapes at Put-in Bay. The product of this first ex- periment met with so much public favor, that he con- cluded to enter the field more largely, and accord- ingly in the Summer of 1868 Lenk & Co. built the first Wine-cellar in Toledo, 80x20 feet in dimensions ; and in the Fall of that year about 15,000 gallons of Wine were made. The product gaining friends rapidly, addi- tional cellars and capital were soon required, to meet the demand ; and in 1870, Louis Wachenheimer and L. A. Fontaine became interested, whom Fred. Gra- dolph followed in January, 1872. In January, 1873, the present Company was incorporated, with a capi- ital stock of $200,000. The first board of Directors was composed of Carl Lenk, Lonis Wachenheimer, Peter Lenk, Fred. Gradolph and Wm. Weis; Carl Lenk was President and Manager; Louis Wachen- heimer, Vice President; and Wm. Weis, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers were continued until Wm. Weis resigned in May, 1879, when Theod. Beck- man was elected to the vacancy, and L. Wachenheimer declined a re-election in 1883, when George Emerson was elected Vice President. The same gentlemen were annually re-elected, and with Carl Lenk continu- ing as President and Manager, were in IS87 the officers of the Company. The success of the Com- pany was assured from the first, until now the build- ings, with their arched cellars underneath, cover more than two acres of ground, and the annual sales reach from 600,000 to 700,000 gallons of Wine, for which from 2,500 to 3,000 tonsof Grapes are required. This vast amount of fruit is drawn principally from the Lake Erie Islands and the South shore of the Lake; and for the last few years, the neighborhood of Toledo has furnished large quantities of Concords and Ives, while Central New York and West Virginia are frequently called upon to supply any deficiency which may exist here. The storage capacity of the buildings is now fully 750,000 gallons, contained in about 400 casks, varying in capacity from 1,000 to 36,000 gallons each. The 36,000-gallon cask is probably the largest Wine-cask now in actual use, and is a master- piece of cooper's work. It was built in 1883 by Muel- ler Brothers, of Toledo, and annually attracts large numbers of visitors, it being one of the principal sights of Toledo.

E. W. E. Koch and Henry Brand each bave also cultivated Vineyards, and have produced Wine since the beginning of the last decade.

BUSINESS PURSUITS - MANUFACTURING.

In all the occupations which make up the line of building and manufacturing, Germans will be found largely employed. Stoneyards are kept by George Loeb & Sons and Albert Neukom, where the stone- cntting for the best structures in the City has been done. The specialty of Marble Works has been attended to by Eckhart Brothers and John Matthies & Son. Brickyards were carried on formerly on a smaller scale than at present. E. Kibbe's (in I854) turned out much of the material for the earlier build- ings, and Win. Essing was burning kilns about 1870. Masons and Bricklayers we cannot commence to enii- merate-there were scores of them. The same as of Carpenters, several of whom, having made their marks as master builders, will be noted. H. E. Bruck-

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

sieker and H. 1I. Samson belong to the older genera- tion. Kuhlman & Koester, Ludwig Frank, Aug. Oech- sler and George Platfoot have done some considerable work ; also Chs. Schmuhl, while J. V. Sanfleet has been putting up some of the finest of Toledo's edi- tices. The latter has also erected a Planing Mill and a Sash, Door and Blind factory, in which branch we find another German firm, C. H. Schroeder & Co., and Christian Zerk as manager of the Toledo Door, Sash and Blind Company.

In Furniture and Cabinet-making, were Meilink & Epker, the pioneers, having arrived here in 1847, and the former has been at the head of this manufacture ever since. Although born in Holland, he has always been counted with other Dutchmen to the German Colony. B. Neher, Jacob Ingold and Philipp Hager, have also been in the business for some time.

In Painting and Frescoing many were engaged since Jno. Werner, who is now manufacturing Var- nish on a large scale in Mannheim, painted signs in 1858. Schmidt & Thiem were relieved by death some time ago from the painter's colic; Thorspecken, Sr., has been succeeded by his son Henry. Cooks Broth- ers, who did some fine frescoing, left for more prom- ising fields ; but Fred. Ingold, Geo. Josenhans, and especially J. C. Romeis, are still maintaining their supremacy on the ladders.

In Upholstering Frank B. Elling has been en- gaged since 1851.

Carpet Weaving appears to be almost entirely in German hands. The four running looms in 1874 were increased in 1886 to 13, all but one or two be- longing to this nationality. Billiard Tables are made by only one, George Schulz; Brooms by the Augs- bach Brothers and G. S. Ressler.

To some industries, that they have not been able to maintain, Germans turned their attention quite early, so to Wood-turning, to the manufacture of matches, which M. Edler tried to establish in 1856, and to Brushmaking, in which Albert Wunderle was engaged in 1870.

In the metal-working industries we see the Ger- mans equally active. The Toledo Foundry and Ma- chine Company, of which John C. Wuerfel is Presi- dent, and John Crowe Secretary, is controlled by them. George Kniesser is the leading mechanic in Haughton & Kniesser's Steam Engine Works. Of Frank and Peter Holzemer, the former has made boilers for more than 20 years. In the manufacture of Iron Fences and Railings, John Mattheis, deceased, has been succeeded by his son. In the blacksmith trade, from which men like Henry Spielbusch have started to serve the City well in various capacities, we find in 1886 20 German names, out of a total of 49. Of those engaged before 1860, Joseph Bulaffer, Henry Kelp, John Reiter, J. Rapparlie and George Hannes may be remembered ; the last named are still at work.

Wagon and Carriagemaking has for a decade been an industry in the City which required in its large operations more than individual capital could furnish, but while it employs many German hands, and also men like Bernard Meilink among the Directors (of the Milburn Wagon Works), it has been followed by at least one-half Germans out of 18 engaged on pri- vate account, of which F. L. Seibert's works, for in- stance, have descended from father to son in their duration. In the manufacture of Carriage Tops and Trimmings, C. Z. Kroh & Brother stand alone : but as Saddlers and Harnessmakers, John Redding and A. Bunert are named over 38 years ago. John Sattler & Son in 1880, when four were Germans out of 10, which proportion was increased in 1886 to 10 out of 21 enumerated.

In Roofing, with slate, asphalt and gravel, they have entered the lists; and in laying paving of this material, Hummel & Schillinger stand at the head.

As Coppersmiths, John Groenewold & Son have no competition, the former having come here from Cin- cinnati 20 years ago ; while in Plumbing, Gas and Steam-fitting, they have to divide the profits with Schulz, Klives Brothers and Raitz.

Val. Seeger has been established as Brassfounder several years ; and William Grah is succeeded by his sons after having been associated for many years as Locksmiths, Cutlers, Bellhangers and manufacturers of Electric apparatus.

Tanning has never been largely carried on in this City ; but while it promised some returns in 1870, A. & Louis Obrist had a yard on Swan Creek, and Jac. Landmann tanned light leather from 1866 to 1868.

Shoemaking was an occupation well followed by the subjects of our sketch, and many of the older set- tlers will remember John Pauly and Jac. Moellendick " pegging away," when not engaged in their more favorite pastime of hunting.John Lang, Mayer & Kapp, Philipp Redding, Caspar Geisert, and J. F. Meyer attended to the "soles " of the next following genera- tion, while 45 German Shoemakers out of a total of 77 named, take care of the " understanding " of the present.

We find a still greater preponderance of German names among the Tailors. Up to 1870, they helonged most all to that nationality ; the names of Theodore Wegener, George Lowwater, J. Stutz, J. Kettemann, Philipp Hassenzahl and J. Jacobi (now the manager of the Buckeye Brewery) will be recalled. In 1880 their number increased to 30, in a total of 35; while the information of IS86 only gives 22 among 30. This may be owing to the increase of Ready-made Cloth- ing, manufactured elsewhere ; also that others prefer to class themselves as Merchant Tailors, among whom John Daiber, Koelker Brothers, Machen & Huber and Joseph Metzger can be named.

In Dressmaking and Millinery the German ladies are not so numerous as the American, only about 20 of 94; but in the former Miss Mary Koehler has achieved quite a success. In manufacturing goods for ladies' wear, German honses only are engaged. Black & Hoffman formerly made hoopskirts and cor- sets ; and since the death of Mr. Hoffman (the firm having changed to Alex. Black), is extensively man- ufacturing Cloaks.

Roth & Friedman are knitting goods on a very large scale, and employ many hands, having em- barked in the same over 10 years ago. For the same period, Chr. Gunther, Thiede Brothers and Rosa Schaefer have been " dyeing to live and living to dye."

Sussman & Hoffman lately started as Furriers

Among the Jewelers and Watchmakers, J. L. Tanke is one of the oldest. From 1854 to 1870 J. F. Schwarz was a kind of genius in that line, while for the last ten years Jac. Frame has finished handsome work. Dealers as well as makers in that branch are also B. H. Broer, M. Judd, C. A. Keil, J. G. Kapp, Jacob Sherman and John Zurfluh.

The first German Bookbinder was H. Sickingen, in 1854. He was succeeded before 1870 by Julius T. Frey; but Dan. Nitschke was and has been coeval with them as foreman of the Blade Printing and Paper Company Bindery. Wendt & Rausch (since the Jatter's death, Wendt & Spatt) are also in the busi- ness on their own account since 1880.

It is 20 years since Barth was running the Armada Mills; hut Metzger Bros. & Co. are pressing Linseed Oil and Meal at the present date.

The oldest Baker whom we remember was Charles Mertz in 1854, unless he was preceded by Matthias Boos. The former afterwards went into partnership with A. B. Ernst. Leading Bakers since 1870, have been Seyfang & Scheuerman, Henry Birkenhauer, L. H. Meinert & Co., T. C. Riffel & Son, Frederick Rit- ter, John Sanzenbacher and B. Weber-in all, one- half of the 24 at present in activity.

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THE GERMAN ELEMENT.

One of the first manufacturing Confectioners was S. E. Fuchs, who was burned out. The one now largest in this business is Fred. Gradolph, who was formerly in partnership with his brother William, and succeded Charles Lenk in 1862.

Of Butchers, Sausage factories and Meat Markets, the first and oldest to mention is Peter Kohler, who supplied the settlers from 1845 to 1860. Rieger & En- glehardt commeneed to flourish in 1856. They were succeeded to 1870 by 42 butchers, of whom one-half were Germans. George Meister, Gottlieb Stahl, M. Stierling, Frank Tillman & Co., and Wiedman & Co. are still remembered. The number augmented in 1880 to 63, and to 83 in 1886; among whom we recog- nize 37 German names, and can point out as the most prominent-Jacob Folger, Jacob Kurtz, Charles Meyers, Grossenbacher & Co., F. W. Saucke and Wolf Brothers.

In this eursory review of the past and present state of mannfacturing in Toledo, we have arrived at some branches to which the Germans, by previous training and experience, felt specially attracted. The making of Cooperage is one in which John Naumann, from 1855 to 1865, employed quite a number of hands. Some of these started afterwards for themselves. The shop was carried on for some time after his death by Henry and Charles IIerroeder. Since 1870 Schunk Brothers have established large works in West Toledo, where they keep 35 to 40 men busy. In the specialty of building large Casks, the brothers, Henry and Alexander Mueller, have excelled since 1852.

BREWING AND MALTING.

Brewing and Malting together have been one of the first industries established here by Germans. Of the primitive structures built by J. J. Vogelsang, in 1836, and by Edward Klinge, in 1840, mention has been made ; but it should be added that it is claimed for the former, that in searching for good water for his Brewery he bored here the first Artesian well. In 1854 Julius Kohler had established a Brewery on Bush Street, near the Canal, which afterwards went through many changes of owners ; first, Kohler & Co., then Rudolph & Georgy ; subsequently, in 1858, Stephan & Co. and Lehman & Eckarts; then through the hands of J. Groenewold and Norton, as assignees ; finally being purchased by Jacobi, Coghlin & Co., and now is the Buckeye Brewing Company.

Andreas Stephan started his first Brewery on Swan Creek, near Superior Street. He associated in 1856 with Peter Lenk, and sold out to him before as- suming the one mentioned above, the latter trans- ferring the Brewery on Swan Creek to Hamilton Street, where it was considerably enlarged. It also underwent several changes of management, and is now styled the Toledo Brewing and Malting Com- pany, of which Peter Lenk is President. In 1870 a small Brewery wasowned by J. M. Hoffman, on Oliver Street. The Grasser & Brand Brewing Company, on upper St. Clair Street, has been substantially owned and managed by the parties which gave it its name ever since the foundation to the buildings was laid in 1862. Both proprietors (Henry Brand and Joseph Grasser) have been residents of the City for over 35 years, and have repeatedly held publie positions. From 1866 to 1873, F. Lang & Co. (George Stetter) ran the Brewery on Michigan Street, near Cherry, when both went in with Peter Lenk. George, since his arrival in 1850, had been driving Theodore Stock- man's hearse during the cholera time, had worked in a Brickyard and graduated as a Grocery clerk. Fred. Lang (in America since 1848) is a practical Brewer, and went into business on his own account again in 1882, with his son Fred., Jr., at the old location, un- der the style of the Eagle Brewery. Several Germans -Zahm, Theodore Klemm, and lately Herman C.

Hahn and Max Eppstein, have been engaged with Finlay's Brewery.

The bottling of Mineral Water and other so-called "soft drinks" was first carried on by Henry Brand, on Eric Street, near the Court-House. He sold out to John Schrink, who in IS78 was succeeded by Philip Schmidt, by whom the factory was considerably en- larged, and improved machinery introduced. Frank Neiss owns, since 1880, the Lake Erie Bottling Works. The bottling of Lager Beer and Ale has become a separate industry, and every Brewery has an estab- lishment of their own, The Buckeye and other brands of Beer are bottled by A. Ullrich & Co.

LIQUORS.

The first German engaged in the Rectification of Spirits, and in dealing in Liquors, was Matthias Boos, from the year 1845, in partnership with Lyman Wheeler. On the latter's death, the firm changed, tirst to the former, then to M. Boos & Son ; and, the father retiring in 1882, to Wm. H. Boos. Matthias Boos died in 1885, highly respected by all who knew him.

In the fall of 1849, two Germans arrived in New York in the same ship, being of very different charac- ters, but having become attached to each other on the voyage. They met in Toledo in the spring of 1850, and commenced the distillery of fine liquors, in which the elder had some experience, while the younger was a Merchant by education. . The former, Rudolph Brand, of Witten, was a steady, quiet and affable man, while Peter Leuk, from Wuerzburg, was pushing and very energetic. Both were cultured gentlemen, and their firm of Brand and Lenk soon took front rank among the manufacturing and mer- cantile houses of the City, while their influence in the society of their countrymen was strongly recog- nized. In 1857, Peter Lenk went into Brewing, Carl Bauch (his brother-in-law) taking his place in the firm, which was changed, January 1, 1858, to R. Brand & Co. Bauch returned to Germany, and in the summer of 1860, Guido Marx entered the firm, having disposed of his stock of Groceries to do it, with the intention of closing out the same. This purpose was hastened by the fire which broke out in October, 1860, in the Bakery next door, on the corner of Summit and Monroe Streets, and in consequence of which they had to move to No. 36 Monroe Street. June 16, 1865, Rudolph Brand died, one of the most popular, respectable and honorable men that ever graced the business circles of this commu- nity. His nephew, Adolph Brand, who had been connected with the house for several years, assumed the interest of the estate and entered as partner, sustaining in every way, the reputation for integrity the uncle had gained. The firm remaining the same, R. Brand & Co., have ever since been regarded as the leading house in their line ; they first carried the trade of the City into the Lake Superior Iron and Copper regions, and beyond on the Northern Pacific Railroad. They first imported Wines directly from Germany, France, Italy and Spain, to this port, those countries having been visited repeatedly by Guido Marx, and also by Adolph Brand, to establish connections. They moreover offered such remuner- ative prices to the first producers of native Wines in our vicinity as to encourage largely their cultivation. In 1874, the firm erected on St. Clair Street, on the ground on which they before had built the first United States Bonded Warehouse, the fine four- story and basement, stone-front (Nos. 120-124), in the middle of which they are located at present.

In the same line of business, we find in 1860, Stettiner, Landman & Co., who subsequently con- stituted three separate concerns-Jacob Land- man & Co., Henry Stettiner & Co., and Sanı. Stet- tiner. The firm of L. Franc & Co., transplanted from

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Dry Goods to " Wet," has in its rapid growth, sent out a similar shoot (Rosenthal, Kaufman & Co.). L. A. Fontaine & Co. of that year, has given way to A. Burde & Co. Of Melchers & Lohmann, engaged in the same business in 1869, E. Melchers remains in 1886. The firm of Markscheffel & Co., composed of the brothers Charles and William, with their nephew, George W. Ernst, are also to some extent in the Wholesale Liquor trade, as is E. W. E. Koch, and Alexander Weber.

Manufacturing Perfumery and Flavoring Extracts has been brought to considerable perfection aud ex- tension by Lorenz Brothers.

MERCANTILE PURSUITS.

Although the United States records for the last 25 years would show the number of those engaged in selling Cigars and Tobacco, we cannot even approxi- mate the proportion of Germans, but know the same to be very large. Carried on so frequently in con- nection with other business, the same as selling Liquors at retail, satisfactory figures cannot be given. As a matter of history, a few names may be men- tioned for each of the several periods which were considered, at their respective dates, the popular places of public resort, or most frequented Saloons. A picture of German life without a German Beer Hall would not be complete: Steckhahn, 1851; Jaroslav Wandke, 1852; Charles Schaal, 1854; A. Schiele, L. Taubitz, George Tanner, Schmelzpfennig and Fr. Schoening, 1862; Fred. Diebel, Jacobs, George Weber, Franz Gaetschenberger, Robert Dederichs, Charles Josenhans, 1870; Charles Villbauer, 1880. At the present time, Birkenhaner, Mrs. F. Diebel, Jacob Hoffmann, August Leibius, Peter Schneider, Gustav Baither, since 1858; John Kiessling, John Trier, M. Epple, D. Sansenbacher, Henry Schlegel, Philipp Junghans, and last, but not least, Anton Holzmann.

The same difficulty occurs in detailing the part Germans have had in the Grocery trade. While only three houses-E. & G. Marx, between 1851 and 1860, aud Markscheffel Bros. and Stettiner, Landman & Co., somewhat later, endeavored to build up a Wholesale business, we find that in 1870, of 150 Retail Grocers, 71 bore German names. This propor- tion changed in 1880 to about 80 in 196, and in 1886 we find 278 enumerated, of which we recognize 104 as belonging to the nationality of which we write. It is evidently not within the scope of this work to recall even a minority of those which have occupied the available corners, and often the space between them, during the last 40 years, devoted to this busi- ness. Of those who went to rest long ago, Veit Wening will be remembered, George Redding, F. M. Kumpe, John Auth, Hansen and Schnetzler and August Engfer. Coming down to present time, we find Wuerfel Brothers, and M. Lotterer having gone out, Ferd. Johnson, Aug. Rall, Nic. Auth, John Scheuermann, Mich. Britsch, Aug. Broer, Charles and Henry Herroeder, Christ. Rudolph, Henry Spielbusch, J. J. Vollmeyer, John Wagenknecht, Overmeyer & Duden, Lonis Metzger, as successor to Plumey & Metzger, still engaged ; and Everh. Poll- mann, Fred. Lange, Chas. Hand and John Manns, as later accessories ; while A. Rensch & Co. make a specialty of Cheese and similar goods.

Of those dealing in Flour and Feed alone, the names of S. Salm, Millers & Diehl, Fred. Adams (suc- cessors to Chas. Oekel), Fred. Soltman and Bihl Brothers occur, while others might be mentioned.

Dealing in Hardware, we find Heckman & Gerber before 1870 ; also Frederick Schaal ; five years later, Carl and George Braun, in the firm of Bostwick, Braun & Co., wholesaling to considerable extent ; then Henry Kahlo & Co., paying particular attention to Carriage Hardware; also Albert Will, succeeding

his brother, Fritz Will (who took charge of the Rochester, New York, Stove Works), in the firm of Bacon & Will, E. A. Eversman, Stollberg & Kuhlman, and J. C. Weeber & Co., in Builders' Hardware, Tools, Paints, Oil and Glass. The oldest of all Ger- mans in this line is Henry Philipps, who embarked in it as early as 1854, but turned aside to make Agricultural Implements and Seeds his principal branch, in which he is assisted by his sons. He erected, in 1870, the large Store front, Nos. 141 and 143 St. Clair Street, for his purposes.

Since the close of the War, Henry G. Neubert has been selling China, Crockery and Glassware, on Sum- mit Street, having also established, with one of his former clerks, a branch on Cherry Street, under the style of Shelling & Co. For a shorter space of time, Hassenzahl, Daudt & Co. have been pushing the same lines, and into the wholesale trade. They lately incorporated as the Daudt Glassware and Crockery Company. Otto Schroeter, for 20 years, kept a large stock of Toys and Fancy Goods, and dis- poses of them exclusively now at Wholesale.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 149

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408