History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 152

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

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

was a delegate to the Republican National Con- vention that nominated Lincoln in 1860. Com- ing to Toledo in 1864, as already stated, he purchased an interest in the Wholesale Grocery House of Bell, Holcomb & Co. After coming to Toledo Mr. Emerson repeatedly declined propositions for his nomination for publie offices, including those of Member of Congress and Mayor of Toledo. The only publie position he accepted was that of Sinking Fund Commis- sioner of Toledo, an office without emolument. He was for several years a Director in the First National Bank of Toledo. Of a retiring dispo- sition, averse to personal prominence, and de- voted to the important interests of the house of which he was the head, Mr. Emerson had the reputation of a sound, conservative business man, and a citizen of substantial worth in all respects, his influence, as were his sympathies, being always on the side of sound morals, good order and the well-being of his fellowmen. His record is specially valuable in showing what constitutes the true basis of an honorable and snecessful business life. The young man, who, on a yearly income of $144, is able to lay by $100, as capital for future investment, not only cultivates the practice of economy, but at the same time trains his desires to the limits of moderate means and healthful habits of living. It may truly be said, that no similar event in Toledo has been attended with more expres- sion of sincere regret and respect, than was the death of Mr. Emerson ; and it was notable that such manifestation was freest and strongest from those who knew him best. A spontaneous meeting of members of the Wholesale Grocery trade was held at the office of Secor, Berdan & Co. but a few hours after his death, at which were adopted a preamble and resolutions bear- ing highest testimony to his business and private worth, setting forth that " his charac- ter for strict business integrity, honesty of purpose, and courteous deportment, was such as to endear him to every one who became in- timately acquainted with him." As a testi- monial of their esteem for the deceased, the members of the meeting resolved to close their respective places of business at the time of the funeral, and in a body attend the same. In accordance with such purpose every Wholesale House in the City was closed during the burial services, which took place at the residence of the family (corner of Madison and Eighteenth Streets), whence the remains were attended by a large concourse of citizens to Woodlawn Cemetery, the pall bearers being employes longest with the firm of which deceased was the head. The Toledo Blade (July 30th), referring to the death of Mr. Emerson, said: " He was an unostentatious man ; but his heart was large and his impulses always in the right direction. Not in the history of Toledo has there been such an outpouring of sympathy on the part of the business men, as in the case of George Emerson.

It was seemingly a slight tribute, but it meant more than words could tell." Mr. Emerson was married with Miss Nancy M. Kellogg, of Mottville, Michigan, in 1852. They had three children, of whom one, Mrs. Florence I., wife of Lawrence Newman, of Toledo, is now living.

RUDOLPH A. BARTLEY was born in Wuertemberg, Town of Rafenepurg, Germany, May 9, 1851, and is a son of Gebbard and Josephine (Genter) Bartley. He came with his parents to America in 1854. His father is a Miller by trade, and previous to bis coming to America was engaged in milling. His par- ents first settled in Perrysburg, Ohio, but soon removed to Lucas County, where many years his father was engaged in farming, but of late years has lived a retired life in Toledo. Mr. Bartley's boyhood was spent on a farm, where he became acquainted with the usual toil of a Farmer's son. His education was limited to the advantages afforded by the District School of the neighborhood, which he attended until his 17th year. At that time the natural in- clinations of his mind led him to abandon the farm for the wider field of commercial pursuits. He commenced his business career as Clerk for the Grocery firm of HI. & F. Barnes, of Toledo, where he remained for two years; after which he served for over three years in a similar capacity with J. A. Speyer. In 1871, Mr. Bartley, in connection with Enos Cousino, under the firm name of Cousino & Bartley, commenced the Grocery business at 307 Sum- mit Street. The undertaking, backed by ex- perience, energy and enterprise, was a sue- cess. In 1881, after 10 years of well-directed labor, Mr. Bartley purchased his partner's in- terest in the business and became sole proprie- tor. During that year, he further extended his business by purchasing the Grocery stock and leasing the adjoining double store of J. C. Wuerfel. From this date until June, 1885, he occupied Nos. 303, 305 and 307 Summit Street, and carried on both Wholesale and Retail Grocery trade. At the latter date he removed to his present more ample quarters, at Nos. 272 and 274 Summit Street, where he has since been engaged in the Wholesale Grocery trade exclusively, which has already assumed large proportions. In the building up of his pres- ent successful and growing business Mr. Bart- ley has displayed unusual business foresight, energy and perseverance. His success can be attributed to fair and honorable business methods, a keen knowledge of the demands of trade and an untiring personal supervision, united with an economie administration of every detail of his business. Among the young- est men in Toledo engaged in his line of trade, he has already established for himself an enviable reputation as an honorable business man, and one whose success is built on such stable foundation.

R.a. Barty

yours Truly Bateman

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TRADERS AND MERCHANTS.

ROBERT H. BELL was born in Youngs- town, Westmoreland County, Penn., December 16, 1823. In 1825, the family removed to Mid- debury (now within Akron, Summit County), Ohio. When 21 years of age, he went to St. Joseph, Mich., where, with Edward Kent, he formed the firm of Bell & Kent, Merchants. In 1845 they removed to Chicago, for like busi- ness. As a result of the loss of what was known as the " Wabash trade," through the opening of the Wabash Canal to Toledo, Chicago soon was brought to a crisis, which largely prostrat- ed its business, and reduced its population. After two years of waiting for a revival, Mr. Bell decided to follow the lost trade, and came to Toledo in 1847. There, with the late James Deveau, he organized the firm of Bell & Deveau, the first exclusively Wholesale house in that ('ity. They dealt in pretty much everything, save Hardware, Drugs and Medicines. The history of this establishment (now Emerson & Co.) is given on page 758. Mr. Bell retired from the house in 1872, and operated to some extent in real estate, the result of which, in consequence of the financial disaster following the panic of 1873, was unfortunate. Ilis active life was always identified with the public wel- fare in different ways. Commencing as a mem- ber of the Chicago Engine Co. No. 3, of which he was Foreman, he resumed such service on coming to Toledo, and maintained the same for a period of 18 years, during most of which time he served as Assistant and Foreman of Engine No. 1, and as Assistant and Chief Engineer of the Department, withdrawing in 1866. It is safe to state, that to no other citizen is Toledo more deeply indebted for the efficiency of its Volunteer Fire Department, than to Mr. Bell, whose long and active devotion in that con- nection was without interruption. He also placed the people of Toledo under special ob- ligation to him for courageous and effective service rendered during the different visitations of cholera (1849, 1852, 1854). Regardless of personal ease or safety, and with the open hand of liberality, he sought out and minister- ed to the needs of victims of that dread scourge, regardless of age, sex, condition or nationality. Like liberality and enterprise have distinguished him in connection with other matters of public concern, as occasion offered. Though never holding an office of profit, he gratuitously served his fellow. citizens in different public positions, including those of Councilman and Alderman. Politically, he started life as a Whig, acting with that party until it was merged into the Republican party, with which he since has acted, and of which he was the nominee for Sheriff in 1885, though not elected. Mr. Bell was married February 22, 1844, with Miss Delia A. Chittenden, at Akron. They had four children-John M., now of Chicago; Nettie T. (deceased), wife of Alex. Backus, of Toledo; Roberta, of Toledo; and one dying in childhood.

ELWOOD BATEMAN was born Angust 28, 1825, in Springboro, Warren County, Ohio. His parents, Jacob and Rachel ( Mullin) Bate- man, wero natives of Pennsylvania-the father being of Welsh-English and the mother of Irish- English descent. For several generations, their families had been identified with the Society of Friends, dating back well toward the days of Fox. About 1807 a Mission was established by the Friends among the Indians in North- western Ohio, the location being the old Indian Village Waupankonnetta near the present Town of Wapakoneta, Auglaize County. Jacob Bateman forabout two years was Companion to the Missionary at that point. Associated with others, about 1810, he laid out the Village of Springboro, the owners constructing Flouring and Saw-Mill and Carding Machine. At the Schools sustained by the Friends, the son's educational privileges were better than the average of Western pioneer settlements. When 18 years of age, he went to Cincinnati, to make his start in business life, and there spent three years in learning the trade of shoemaking In 1846, he went to Attica, Indiana, remaining there 13 years, being employed as Clerk in the Grain Warehouse of a brother, Kersey Bate- man, and in a Dry Goods store. Ile went to Danville, Illinois, in 1859, and in connection with N. C. Porter, established a Grocery and Provision Store, remaining in successful trade for seven years. In 1867, with Mr. Porter and a brother, Clarkson W. Bateman, he opened a Wholesale Boot and Shoe Store (firm of N. C. Porter & Co.), in Toledo. Withdrawing from this establishment in 1869, Mr. Bateman estab- lished at No. 441 (new number) Summit Street, the Grocery and Provision business which he has continued for the period of 19 years, with a degree of suecess and acceptability to cus- tomers not exceeded by any like establishment in Toledo, where he has justly come to be recognized as the leading Retail Dealer in his line of trade, a man of nnexceptional personal habits, he has ever stood as a firm friend of sobriety and good order. Mr. Bateman was married September 5, 1850, with Miss Jane P. La Mont, of Owego, N. Y. They have had five children-LaMont, of Toledo; Mary, who died in childhood ; Caroline, wife of Frank P. Russell, San Jose, California; Rachel, wife of George ). Law, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Ruth E., of Toledo. Mrs. Bateman is recognized as among the most active and efficient friends of Temper- ance in Toledo, having for many years taken prominent part in support of that canse, in connection with the Women's Christian Tem- peranee Union and other branches of the same work.

JOHN B. KETCHAM was born August 27. 1832, at Cornwall, Orange County, New York His father, Samuel Ketcham, was a farmer and miller, who was married with Miss Rachel Sands, at Cornwall. JJohn B. remained at home

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

until 20 years of age, working on the farm and attending District School during the Winters. In 1852, he came to Toledo, where he soon en- gaged as clerk with Ketcham & Secor, and afterwards in like capacity, with Secor & Ber- dan. In 1854, upon the organization of the Wholesale Grocery house of Secor, Berdan & Co., he became a partner in the same, and contin- ued as such until 1862. At this time, with Henry W. Gillett, he established the firm of Ketcham & Gillett, for the prosecution of the same business, which continued until 1864. when Mr. Gillett sold his interest to L. L. Morehouse and James M. Brigham, of Water- ville, the firm name becoming Ketcham, Brig- ham & Co. Mr. Brigham dying in 1869, the sur- viving partners continued as the firm of Ketch- am & Morebonse. In 1872, Charles W. Bond and John B. Ketcham 2d taking the interest of Mr. Morehouse, the firm of Ketcham, Bond & Co. was formed, and continued until the retire- ment of the last two named partners, in 1884, leay- ing thebusiness with the senior partner, who con- tinued it until 1887, when it was finally closed, and Mr. Ketcham opened an office as Merchandise Broker and Manufacturers' Agent. Mr. Ketch- am served for seven years as a member of the Hook and Ladder Company, in the old Volun- teer Fire Department, and one year as Assist- ant Chief Engineer. He was married October 15, 1863, at Cleveland, Ohio, with Miss Mary E. Knott. They have two sons, Henry A. and John S.

EMMOR A. ROOD was born near Raven- na, Portage County, Ohio, March 4, 1838. His father, Norman Rood, was a native of Litch- field County, Connectient, and his mother, Louisa (Tibbits) Rood, a native of Oneida County, New York. The father came West about 1821, and settled in Portage County. The mother coming in 1827, they were married there. The father owned a farm which he managed, but his time was largely devoted to trade which took him much from home. Em- mor was eldest of a family of 13 children-10 sons and three daughters -- which relation as years advanced, devolved on him special obli- gations, which were faithfully met. At 14 years, with one brother, he attended the Semi- mary at Hiram, Portage County, where their attention was divided between a small farm and that School. They found there James A. Garfield, then contributing to his expenses by caring for the fires and ringing the Seminary bell. Subsequently Emmor recited to Mr. Garfield. At 21 be commenced business life as traveling dealer in gun-powder, which he continued with special success until 1869. The following year he came to Toledo and was connected with the Union Manufacturing Company for two years, From 1872 until 1882 he was in the Grocery and Provision

trade on Monroe Street, and in 1884 resumed that business at his present stand, Northwest corner of Summit and Orange Streets. His life from the start, has been one of uninter- rupted activity, throughout which he has main- tained a record creditable to him. To the extent of opportunity, he has taken active interest in whatever concerned the moral or material well-being of his fellow-citizens. With Mrs. Rood, he is a member of First Baptist Church, Toledo. He was married at Ravenna, June 6, 1861, with Miss Sarah A. Dorman of that Town. They have two chil- dren-Prentice E., and Mary Louise, both of Toledo. Of his father's family, have died the father and five children, leaving the mother and seven sons and one danghter.

TORANCE D. PARKER was born near Bellevue, Ohio, November 29, 1845, the resi- dence of the family being a log-house. His parents were Joseph and Catharine (Adams) Parker, both natives of the State of Maine, the father and mother of Scotch descent. The chil- dren consisted of five boys and three girls. All of these are now living, except one ( Elbridge C.), who was accidently drowned in 1855, near West SisterIsland, Lake Erie. All except Torance D. were born in Maine. When he was three years old, the family removed to Port Clinton, Ottawa County. The father was a Ship Carpenter, and supported the family by such labor. The son enjoyed such educational advantages as were supplied by the Common Schools of the Village. When 17 years of age (in 1863), he enlisted in the Union Army for the suppres- sion of the Rebellion, and served until the elose of the War, receiving his final discharge July 4, 1865. In the Spring of 1866 he went to Odell, Livingston County, Illinois, where he engaged in the Boot and Shoe business, with a brother. This not proving a snecess, he rented land and spent two years in tilling the soil. In 1872 he returned to Ohio, and bought 75 aeres of land, to the clearing of which he devoted two years. Concluding that not to be his life- work, he came to Toledo in 1875, where he was engaged by the Lake Shore Railroad Company as Special Policeman, and acted as such until 1878. He then engaged with Morgan Hollings. head (firm Hollingshead & Parker), in the business of Retail Grocery and Meat Market, 66 Monroe Street, which arrangement contin- ned for one year, when Mr. Parker took the business which he yet pursnes at 412 Monroe Street, and where by strict application to bus- iness, and attention to every want of his pat- rons, he at present commands a very liberal and increasing trade. Mr. Parker was married at Toledo, December 7, 1880, with Miss Jessie Mehl. They have one child, Ralph A., now five years of age.

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TRADERS AND MERCHANTS.

DRY GOODS.

As elsewhere shown, the pioneer dealers in Dry Goods in Toledo, were John Baldwin and Cyrus Fisher, who opened a small stock in 1823, being followed in 1828, by John and Marquis Baldwin, both at the foot of Monroe Street. These were small stocks. In 1831 came Lewis Godard's stock of general mer- chandise, in charge of S. L. Collins. In 1835, there were in such trade, A. Palmer & Co., Andrew Clark, W. J. Daniels & Co., and I. C. Smith. These were followed by a succession of dealers too long for statement here, many of whom are named elsewhere. Among the prominent Wholesale Dry Goods houses of the past, were Wm. Bolles & Co., Keeler, Hubbell & Co., followed by Cummings, Wason & Bolles, Eaton & Backus, Luce, Chapin & Blass, C. L. Luce & Co., and others, mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

FREDERICK EATON, the well-known Dry Goods Merchant of Toledo, was born at Sutton, New Hampshire, February 10, 1836, and is de- scended from ancestors whose record in New England reaches back to the days of the Colo- nies. His paternal great-grandfather com- manded a Company at the battle of Bunker Hill, and served in the Army throughout the Revolutionary War. The parents of Mr. Eaton (John and Jeannette G. Eaton) were na- tives of New Hampshire. His father, whose occupation was that of a Farmer, died in 1873 ; his mother died in 1846. Of their family of nine children- six sons and three daughters- one daughter died in infancy. The others are living. Two brothers-General John and Colonel L. B. Eaton-are graduates of Dart- month College, and have held conspienous military and civil positions. The former entered the Army as Chaplain of the 27th Ohio Volum- teer Infantry, and was afterwards promoted, by recommendation of General Grant, to the rank of Brigadier-General, and placed in com- mand of the " Contrabands" in the campaign from Cairo to the Gulf of Mexico. After the War he assisted in organizing the Freedman's Bureau, and in 1870 was appointed by President Grant, Commissioner of Education at Washing- ton, D. C., a position which he held until 1886. Colonel L. B. Eaton was in command of a Regiment in the Army of the Tennessee, and after the War was appointed by President Grant United States Marshal for West Ten- nessee. He bas since represented the City of Memphis in the State Legislature, and is one of the wealthy men of that City. Mr. Eaton has one brother, a farmer, in Santiago, Cali- fornia; another is a Dry Goods merchant, at Grand Rapids, Michigan ; the youngest, Charles, being an Attorney-at-Law of the Toledo Bar. His oldest sister resides in Boston, and the

other (unmarried) lives at home in New Hampshire. The boyhood of Mr. Eaton was passed at his rural home in Sutton, working on the farm and acquiring such knowledge as he could gain at the country Schools. Circum- stances compelled him to forego the advan- tages of a Collegiate education, which to most aspiring youth is an object of worthy ambition ; but it does not always afford the best training for business success. The young man who learns to labor and practice self-discipline usually succeeds in the race of life. The Clerk who is willing to work at first for a small salary, and who saves his means, masters himself at the same time that he masters his business, and is much more likely to succeed than the young collegiate who relies upon his diploma. Mr. Eaton learned his business, and at the same time fitted himself for it in the school of experience. No College education could have made a merchant of him had he not possessed the requisite genius in himself. This was early foreshadowed by his choice of the mercantile occupation, and more fully manifested by the energy, persistence and suc- cess with which, amidst many discourage- ments, he developed the business during its early stages, and has finally crowned it with a success attained by few in his line of mercan- tile pursuit. Clerking only long enough to get a little means wherewith to establish business for himself, he was obliged to study the most rigid economy, as his salary at first was very small. He worked as a Clerk three years in a country store for $50.00 for the first year, and an increase of $25.00 for each year thereafter, until the expiration of his contract. At the close of this engagement, he not only found himself with something in his pocket, but was so well up in proficiency and reputation as to be able to command a salary of $300 for a year's service in a large Dry Goods house in Man- chester, New Hampshire. At the expiration of his clerkship there, in August, 1856, Mr. Eaton came to Toledo, following his brother John, who had preceded him, and was at that time Superintendent of the Public Schools of the City. Mr. Eaton's first engagement in Toledo was as a Clerk for Messrs. Hobart & Gleason, and then for Messrs. Keeler & Hunt. In September, 1857, was formed the firm of F. Eaton & Co. (Frederick and John Eaton, Jr.), who then opened a Dry Goods Store, at 115 Summit Street, with the savings of the partners as capital stock. The year of their commence- ment was inauspicious, for it was the year of the " great panic of '57," which was precipitated by the failure of the Ohio Trust Company in October, and was widespread and disastrous in its results. They were among those who were enabled to pull through the panic, and in the Summer of 1858 located their business at 79 Summit Street, subsequently adding No. 77 to their establishment. fn August, 1859, Asa

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

of the City. He was one of the founders of the Milburn Wagon Works, and has been a stock- holder in that corporation since its organiza- tion. He is one of the Directors of the Gen- dron Iron Wheel Company, which he helped to organize; also a stockholder in the Union Manufacturing Company, the Toledo Moulding Company, the Citizens' Electric Light Com- pany, and the Tri-State Fair Association, and has been from the first, one of the Directors in the latter organization. He aided in estab- lishing the Merchants National Bank, and the Merchants' and Clerks' Savings Institution of Toledo, and has been a Director (and is now Vice President) of the former for 16 years, and of the latter for 15 years. While he has been thus actively identified with the commercial and industrial development of the City, he has also been an earnest worker and generous contributor in behalf of her moral, religious and charitable institutions. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Prot- estant Orphans' Home of Toledo, and has been a member of First Congregational Church since 1858, and is one of the Trustees. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought or held any political office. Mr. Eaton was married March 8, 1861, with Miss Mary H., daughter of R. M. and Sophia the growth of the business, it may be stated . Shirley, of Goffstown, New Hampshire. Their only child (a daughter), died in 1876, at the age of 10 years. Mrs. Eaton died January 2, 1887.

Backus, from Connecticut, succeeded John Eaton, Jr., and the firm name became Eaton & Backus. In December, 1863, C. A. King, under an arrangement with the firm, having erected the fine building at the Northeast corner of Summitand Madison Streets, they there opened the Palace Store. In 1866, they removed to 169-171 Summit Street, which in 1872 was de- stroyed by fire, with heavy loss. During the same year was built the capacious quarters, 165-171 Summit Street, which are yet occupied. In 1872 Mr. Backns withdrew from the firm, and returned to Connecticut, and Mr. Eaton continued the business, as he has done to this time. Thus, for over 30 years has he held a position of prominence among the busi- ness men of Toledo. During that period his business has had a steady and successful devel- opment, growing with the increasing demands of a growing City and country, and with the enlargement of the Wholesale trade through- out the West. When he opened his first store he had the assistance of a single Clerk, and, as he says, " slept upon the counter at night as a substitute for insurance policies and burglar- proof safes." Now over 200 Clerks, Salesmen and Accountants are busily employed in the various departments, attending to the wants of a multitude of customers. As an illustration of that the first year the sales amounted to $15,000, while in 1887 they reached the large sum of $1,250,000. The two stores occupied by the principal business are the largest in the State, with the exception of a similar establishment in Cincinnati, and are thoroughly supplied with all the best modern appliances for the transaction of trade. With succeeding years other departments have been added to that of Dry Goods, such as Notions, Millinery, Cloth- ing, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Carpets, Upholstery, Furs, Crockery, etc. In the de- velopment and successful management of this large business, Mr. Eaton has attained to first rank among the merchants of his State. He possesses a keen, active intellect, and great energy and business sagacity. While able to generalize rapidly, he has acquired complete mastery of the details necessary to success in a large mercantile business, such as he is carry- ing on. The remarkable success which he has achieved has been due largely to these quali- ties, together with the unremitting personal supervision which he has always given to his affairs. He is as active and alert to-day in overseeing every detail as he has ever been at any period of his life. Few men watch their business more closely, or look more sharply after the leakages which might soon carry away a fortune. His means and energies have not been devoted exclusively to merchandise. Mr. Eaton has always been actively interested in public improvements, and in many enterprises calculated to advance the growth and prosperity

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 152

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