History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 153

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

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CHARLES LEVERETT LUCE was born in Windsor, Ashtabula County, Ohio, August 12, 1826, and died at Toledo, September 15, 1886, aged 60 years, one month and three days. His father, Joshua W. Luce, was a farmer. His mother was Mary (Gray) Luce. In 1836, when the son was 10 years of age, the family removed to Steuben County, Indiana, where the father purchased land, which he tilled. To this time, Charles's educational advantages had been limited to a District School, and he had no snch advantages thereafter, beyond what he was able to pick up, being employed on the farm until he was 21 years of age, save a por- tion of the time when engaged with his brother, Cyrus G. Luce, now (1888) Governor of Mich- igan, in running a Carding Machine and Cloth- Dressing. Meantime, the financial condition of the father was such as to tax fully the resources of the sons, who to the extent of their abilities in labor and self-denial, met the demands of the hour, and with success. What was involved in such struggle, none but those acquainted with the conditions of a new and sparsely settled country, can judge. Arriving at his majority in 1847 (the partnership with his brother having been closed), Charles went into a Store as Clerk, to take such wages as his employer, upon trial of him, should sce fit to pay. He soon was placed on a salary of $15.00

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per mouth, with board. Remaining there for one year, he made arrangements for opening a Store on his own account at Orland, Indiana, and visited New York for the purchase of goods for such purpose. As capital for the venture, he had $350, the profits on 40 acres of wheat which his father had permitted him to raise on the farm. Without letters of credit, so common in such cases, he was left, as basis for purchase, chiefly to the small sum at his command, and whatever of confidence his sim- ple statement and personal appearance might do for him. Suffice it to say, he found no difficulty in obtaining all the goods he wished. which were shipped to Orland, when his business life was fairly inaugurated. From the start it was a success, so much so that ere long he opened a second store at Angola, in the same County with Orland, in which were employed as Clerks, Frederick C. Chapin and James Blass. In 1856 Mr. Luce engaged largely in the Cattle trade-purchasing stock in his neighborhood and taking them to New York for market. It was in connection with one of these trips, that occurred the incident (so characteristic of him), mentioned in the biographical sketch of Mr. George Emerson, elsewhere. Mr. Luce continued in business in Indiana until 1865, Mr. Chapin meantime be- coming associated with him. At the date named was formed the firm of Luce, Chapin & Blass, which came to be so well known in the Wholesale Dry Goods trade at Toledo. Their first location was at 176 Summit Street (old number), whence they soon removed to 32-34 Summit Street (old number), remaining there until the removal in February, 1873, to the present location, 132-134 Summit (old number). In 1874, the co-partnership having expired by limitation of time, Mr. Luce continued the business, under the firm name of C. L. Luce & Co., which arrangement existed until his death. Not long thereafter was organized The C. L. Luee Company, by which the business is yet (1888) continued. With all the constant demands of a large business on his attention, Mr. Luce found time for active co-operation with his fellow-citizens in many directions for the common welfare. The various local enter- prises designed for such purpose, were sure to have his sympathies and largely his active and efficient support. From time to time, during his 21 years residence in Toledo, he was asso- ciated with various enterprises of public nature. He was a stockholder and a Director in the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Railroad ; in the Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Rail- road; in the Turnbull Wagon Company ; and in the Second National Bank of Toledo. For many years he was largely interested in Toledo Street Railways. Few of the business men of Toledo took as active an interest as did Mr. Luce in current political affairs, though never with reference to official position, the

few oflices held by him being purely of a local character, as member of the Board for the Equalization of Taxes, and of the City Sinking Fund Commission, in both of which his judgment was very serviceable. Politically, he was a Republican, as he formerly was a Whig, and was always recognized as potential in party matters. Throughout his long business life, his upright bearing and sound discretion were fully recognized and appreciated, giving him much influence wherever his name was known. Such exceptional power was due, first, to his known intelligence and sound judgment; and second, to the characteristic independence and frankness of his treatment of questions challenging his attention. He knew no fear in the utterance of his opinions, but met all points of difference from the stand-point of reason and justice. Hence, the special influ- ence of his judgment. His unremitted devo- tion of time and effort to the various interests engaging his attention-especially his large mercantile trade, extending over several States -- finally proved too much even for his strong constitution and careful habits of life; and for some time before his death, he was compelled largely to suspend active participation in business. His death was regarded as a special loss to Toledo, as shown by the general expres- sion of regret on that occasion. The funeral services were held at his late residenec, 541 Summit (old number), and were attended by large numbers of citizens, including members of the various branches of trade. Reverend Albert S. Hobart, Pastor of First Baptist Church, conducted the services, assisted by Reverend Win. W. Williams, Pastor of First Congrega- tional Church. Mr. Luce was married at Orland, Indiana, October 2, 1850, with Miss Elmira Childs, who survives him, as do their five children-Mrs. Jesse G. Gould, Mrs. Clar- ence Brown, Mrs. Wm. H. Harrison, Mrs. F. W. Rundell, and Arthur B. Luce, all of Toledo.

GEORGE SCHEETS was born November 19, 1842, in the Village of Kirchehrenbach, 18 miles East of Bamberg, Bavaria. His father (George Scheets) and family came to the United States in 1852, arriving at New York, June 5th. They located at Perrysburg, where the father died of cholera, during the severe epidemic of 1854, which was attended by 104 deaths, including those of many of the most intelligent and prudent residents. The son attended the Public Schools of Perrysburg, and for a limited term St. John College, Cleveland, leaving the latter for lack of means for staying. At 14 years of age, he entered the Book Store of John Powers, then Postmaster at Perrys- burg. Being able to read and write both English and German, he proved specially ser- viceable in that position, and remained there for three years, when he engaged in the Dry Goods Store of W. J. Hitchcock,

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remaining there until the Rebellion was in- augurated in 1861. At the age of 19, he enlisted, August 25th, for three years, as private in Company C, Twenty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His special fitness therefor soon caused his detnil as Quartermaster-Sergeant, in which capacity he served with credit. In October, 1864, during Sherman's March to the Sea, he was appointed as Adjutant of the Regi- ment, by Colonel Arnold McMahan, and served as such until mustered out with the Regiment in August, 1865, meantime (July 12, 1865) having been appointed as Captain, for merito- rious service. The following mention is made of Captain Scheets, in "Ohio in the War," to wit: "The survivors of the Regiment retired with the Army to Chattanooga, where it arrived September 22d, and remained until January 1, 1864, when it re-enlisted as a Veteran organ- ization, mainly through the efforts of Quarter- master Daniel Lewis, Quartermaster-Sergeant George Scheets and the non-commissioned officers of the Regiment." Captain Scheets was absent from his command but once during the four years of his service, and that was on vet- eran furlough. He participated in the cam- paigns under Thomas, Roseerans and Sherman, and in all respeets met the demands upon him as a faithful, loyal Soldier. In September, 1865, with the small savings of a Soldier, he opened a general merchandise store in East Toledo, with Colonel MeMahan as partner. At the end of a year, he purchased the interest of his partner, and has since conducted the busi- ness alone, meantime (in 1868) erecting the fine brick block No. 28 Front Street, in which he yet conducts a successful trade. Though actively identified with the Republican party, he has preferred strict attention to business to office-seeking. In 1871, in the interest of his immediate neighbors, he consented to serve them in the City Council, during which time he contributed materially to securing the free bridge which now connects East Toledo (Sixth Ward) with the balance of the City. In 1885, upon the resignation of Mayor Romeis (then elected to Congress), Captain Seheets was chosen by the City Council for the vacancy, serving until April of that year. He has been prominently identified with the work of the Grand Army of the Republic. One of the original members of Ford Post, he has been its Quartermaster since its organization. He was Quartermaster General on the Staff of General J. B. Steedman, while Commander of Ohio Department, G. A. R. With the late Charles A. Crane he was specially active and efficient in securing the Soldiers' Monument in Willow Cemetery, Oregon Township. Captain Seheets, for 23 years, has been prominently identified with the severe struggles of East Toledo, as part of the City, and has always taken an active part in whatever pertained to the interests of that locality, in both its material and its moral

growth and development, and now has the satisfaction of seeing the small Village, " Yon- dota," assume an importance among the Wards of the City second to none. He, eminently, is a self-made man. Coming to this country in his childhood, without the aids of fortune, and soon bereft of a father's care, he has had none but himself for reliance in the battle of life. Whether as citizen, or business man, he has ever maintained a character for honor and use- fulness, the secret of his sueeess lying in the two words: "Industry-Integrity."

HARDWARE.

As in the cases of Dry Goods, Groceries, &c., Hardware was for many years a department in the general stock of merchandise. It assumed increasing importance from year to year, until promoted to a separate position in trade. The earliest record found of distinctively Hardware Stores, are those of Kirkland & Whitaker and A. Palmer & Co., in 1844, the former soon be- ing followed by S. & J. H. Whitaker. In 1856, came the firm of W. & C. B. Roff. We find in 1887, five Wholesale houses in this branch- Bostwick, Braun & Co., Whitaker & Co., R. G. Bacon & Co., Stolberg, Clapp & Briggs, and E. A. Eversman.

WILLIAM ROFF was born at Newark, New Jersey, September 10, 1802. His father (Stephen Roff) was a Shoe Manufacturer, and for many years carried on his business at New- ark, where he died. At the breaking out of the War of Independence, his grandfather on his maternal side was appointed Surgeon in the Continental Army, and was killed at the battle of Springfield, New Jersey. The son was edu- cated in the Private Schools of Newark, and early evinced a taste for commercial pur- smits. At an early age he commenced his business career as Clerk in a Hardware Store. A few years thereafter he went to Savannah, Georgia, and obtained employ- ment in a general Store, conducted by an uncle, with whom he remained about three years. After this he went to Charleston, South Carolina, where he entered a Hardware Store as clerk. In 1833 he visited Mobile, Al- abama, and New Orleans, spending some three years, and then commenced business at New- ark, New Jersey. After several years of marked snecess there, he retired from active business. Up to this period his business ventures had proven remarkably successful ; but retirement from the active channels of trade, thus early in life, illy suited his energetic nature, and after a few years ofrest, with his brother, Charles B., in 1850 he opened a Hardware Store at Racine, Wisconsin, under the firm name of W. & C. B. Roff, which was continued until 1856, when they removed to Toledo, and established a

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Wholesale and Retail Hardware Store on Sum- mit Street. Their trade rapidly increased and soon occupied the first place in their line of trade in the City. In 1868 Mr. Roff retired from the firm, before and since which date, several changes occurred in the personnel of the firm, but a continuation of the original firm is represented by the large Wholesale and Retail Hardware Store of Bostwick, Brann & Co. Mr. Roff was originally a Whig in politics, but soon after the formation of the Republican party attached himself to that organization, and al- though never an intense partisan, has since been a consistent upholder of the principles of that party. He has never held political office, though often entreated by friends to allow his name to be used as a candidate for such. By well directed efforts in the legitimate channels of trade, Mr. Roff has succeeded in securing an ample fortune. He lives a retired, unassuming, modest life, as best suited to his taste and inclinations. Already many years past the allotted three score and ten, he enjoys remarkably robust health, and is quietly pass- ing his remaining years in a community where he has so long resided and where by an honora- ble life-work he has justly gained the respect and esteem of all.

January 12, 1860, Mr. Roff was married with Mary Chandler, who died April 6, 1887.

OSCAR ALONZO BOSTWICK was born in Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio, June 12, 1830. His parents were among the earliest settlers of that Township, his father being a builder and contractor. Opportunities for education were then very limited in that section, of which the son availed himself, so far as was practicable. He worked on the farm and at the Joiner's trade until arrived at his majority, when he entered the office of Bidwell & Brothers, Forwarders, at Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, who were running a line of Steamers and Canal-Boats on the Ohio River, the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canals and the Lakes. Upon the completion of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad (now the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago), the forwarding business was de- stroyed, when Mr. Bostwick returned to Ra- venna and entered the Hardware Store of E. T. Richardson, remaining there until 1854. He then made a trip to the Northwest, visiting St. Paul, where he was engaged in the Wholesale and Retail Clothing business and remained for one and a half years. Returning to Ravenna he engaged in the Hardware trade as a member of the firm of F. A Curtis & Co. Owing to the effects upon trade of the panic of 1857 and at. tendant drouth in Northwestern Ohio, their establishment was removed to Fremont, Ohio, in 1859. Mr. Bostwick, in 1861, disposed of his interest in trade to his partner, and purchased the establishment of Brown & Hunt, at Perrys- burg. In 1862, be engaged as salesman for W.

& C. B. Roff, Wholesale Hardware dealers, To- ledo ; and in 1865, disposing of his Perrysburg interest, he became a partner of the firm of Roff & Company, then formed. In 1868, C. F. and G. A. Braun bought out William Roff, and in 1873, Charles B. Roff sold to his partners, whon the firm of Bostwick, Braun & Company was organized, as now (1888) existing. Mr. Bostwick was married February 10, 1856, with Miss Maria Louisa, daughter of Colonel Wilcox, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. They have two chil- dren-Frank A., now in the Hardware business at St. Paul, Minnesota; and Luella Maria, wife of Freeman P. Strong, of Strong-Hackett Hard- ware Company, St. Panl.

RANDALL G. BACON was born in Steu- ben County, New York, October 23, 1837. He traces his ancestry back to the hardy stock of American pioneers who made their mark in the early history of New England settlements, and whose descendants subsequently made like record in Western New York and in the great West. His father was of German descent and was born in Steuben County. His mother was of New England origin. His boyhood was uneventful, and until arrived at man's estate, he remained in his native County. Early in 1862 be enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Volunteer Infantry Regi- ment, serving as First Sergeant of Company B. At the end of 18 months, he was transferred to the Thirty-Eighth Regiment of Colored In- fantry Regulars, was commissioned as First Lieutenant and assigned to Company F. He took part in all of the engagements of his Regiments, and was wounded April 5, 1865, at the siege of Richmond, and is now in receipt of a pension. June 5, 1865, he was mustered out of the service. Recuperated from the effects of his service in the field, he turned his eyes to- ward the West in 1867, and after prospecting awhile, located that year in Toledo and entered the Store of Roff & Co., the Hardware business already having been his choice. Ile remained with that firm nine years, and in 1876 he made a start as a Hardware merchant on his own account. His progress, though steadily on- ward, was not achieved without a hard fight. Whatever he has won, he has won well and deservedly, and it is of course to him an abun- dant satisfaction to know that he is a self-made man in the strictest meaning of the word. His first partner was Frederick Will, who after three years, was succeeded by Albert Will. In April. 1886, the latter retired. The firm is now R. G. Bacon & Co., George P. Metz- ger being a partner. Mr. Bacon is Republican in polities, and a member of the Episcopal Church. He is identified in a prominent way with various civil bodies, including the Grand Army of the Republic, the Knights of the Golden Rule, the A. O. U. W., the National Union, and the Independent Order of Odd

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Fellows (being now a member in the Toledo Lodge 402). Mr. Bacon was married in Toledo in 1872 to Mrs. Nellie Clark, daughter of James Conorton, one of the leading citizens of Tecumseh, Michigan. His father, who settled in Portland, Ionia County, Michigan, in 1872, and for 10 years was well known in that sec- tion as a prominent and prosperous farmer, died at that place in 1882. His widow still re- sides there. Mrs. Bacon was born at West Farms, Westchester County, New York, No- vember 1, 1846, the family removing to Tecum- seh, Michigan, in 1868. She has been identi- fied with benevolent work in Toledo for 20 years. With other ladies, she was instrumental in securing the Bethel, near the old Union Railroad Depot, Middle Ground, of which Rev. S. M. Beatty was long the Chaplain. She was a charter member of Forsyth Relief Corps, No. 1; has just entered her ninth year as Chair- man of the Xenia Home for Orphans of Soldiers and Sailors, devoting much time to that ser- vice; and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Toledo Humane Society from its organization. With Mr. Bacon she is a member of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, Toledo.

NOTIONS AND FANCY GOODS.

In a Retail way, this branch of trade has ex- isted in Toledo for the past 40 years. In 1870 were the following honses: L. S. Baumgardner & Co., Black & Hoffman, M. Hunker, O. Schroe- ter, and Sherwood, Barker & Co. In 1887, we find L. S. Baumgardner & Co., Davis Brothers, The C. L. Luce Company, Otto Schroeter, and E. C. Shaw & Co. in Wholesale trade.

The firm of L. S. Baumgardner & Co., dealers in Notions and Fancy Goods, was organized and began business in Toledo in March, 1866, on second floor of 78 Summit Street. The firm consisted of L. S. Baumgardner, B. Berbower and Dr. T H. Baker, all citizens of Wooster, Ohio, the former two coming to Toledo as active partners, and the latter remaining at Wooster. The parties began operations under special embarrassments, from being strangers not only to the people with whom they were to do busi- ness, but to the department of trade in which they engaged. January 1, 1868, for the pur- pose of securing more adequate accommoda- tions, they moved into the block, 84 and 86 Summit Street, when E. G. Richards became a partner of the firm, and the firm name became Baumgardner, Richards & Co. The next year Mr. Richards retired, and the firm was L. S. Baumgardner & Co. In 1869, Dr. Baker died, his interest being taken by Lyman Robison. Mr. Berbower's health failing, he was suc- ceeded by S. M. Owen, who remained in the house for five years, when the partnership hav- ing expired by limitation, Messrs. Robison and

Owen retired, and E. B. Robison and A. T. Colburn, successful Salesmen, became partners. January 1, 1875, Mr. Colburn withdrew, to be- come a member of the successful house of Weed, Colburn & Co. Edson W. Baumgardner was admitted, January 1, 1876, when the firm con- sisted of L. S. and E. W. Baumgardner and E. B. Robison. In 1880, the house moved from 122 and 124 Summit Street, to the corner store of Hall Block (St. Clair and Jefferson Streets), where it remained until that building was burned, December 15, 1882. The firm then lost nearly all of its stock ; but the good fortune of an insurance nearly covered the loss. E. B. Robison then retired and went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he is yet in business. The firm was reorganized and business continued by L. S. and E. W. Baumgardner, the present members, and the store 118 Summit Street taken, a new stock at once provided, and business re- opened within 30 days of the fire. January 1, 1885, the store was removed to its present loca- tion, 114 and 116 Summit Street. From the first, this honse has been with the foremost in Toledo, in financial standing and public con- fidence.

LEANDER SOLOMON BAUMGARDNER, a Merchant of Toledo, was born in East Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio, February 10, 1832. Peter Baumgardner, the father, was a native of Baden-Baden, Germany, coming to the United States in 1812, when he was 14 years of age. He was married with Catharine Heller, a native of Hellerston, Pennsylvania, and also of German descent. The couple came to Ohio in 1830, settling in Wayne County. When but 10 years of age, Leander was " bound out" to a farmer, a provision of the contract being, that the boy should attend School during each Winter of his indenture-an agreement which was not made good. In spite of such denial of educational privileges, however, Leander so well improved the limited opportu- nities available, that before reaching his major- ity, he was himself qualified to teach School, which he did for two seasons. He remained in farm work until his 22d year, when, yielding to a strong desire for mercantile life, he united with his older brothers, J. H. and T. P. Baum - gardner, forming the firm of J. H. Baumgardner & Co., which opened a store for the sale of drugs, stationery, musical instruments, etc., at Wooster, in 1854. So successful was this ven- ture, that within three years the firm resolved to provide a building for their special use, and proceeded to ereet the " Arcadome Building," with a public hall in the upper story, which supplied the first accommodations of the kind in Wooster. Here the firm published a news- paper, mainly as a medium for their own ad- vertising, the editorial charge of which was

L& Baumegandhies

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with L. S. and J. HI. Baumgardner. The for- mer of these took part in organizing the Woos- ter Library Association, a successful and useful institution. In 1865, Mr. Baumgardner dis- posed of his interest in the store, and for a year was on a farm which he had purchased at Cuy- ahoga Falls, Summit County. Not satisfied with such life, in 1866 he came to Toledo, and founded the firm of L. S. Baumgardner & Co., for wholesale trade in notions, gents' fur- nishing goods, etc. The success of this arrange- ment was assured from the start, and its busi- ness has steadily grown, until it has reached the large annual aggregate of $400,000. The present firm is composed of Mr. Baumgardner and his nephew, Edson W. Baumgardner. Be- ginning life, as already shown, without the most ordinary advantages of the farmers' sons, by the sheer force of an indomitable will guid- ing and sustaining the practice of industry, energy, economy, and the strictest integrity, Mr. Baumgardner has been enabled to estab- lish himself in the front rank of mercantile men of Toledo and Northwestern Ohio, while en- joying a liberal accumulation of honest gains, as the just fruits of active and judicious man- agement. While thus watchful and devoted in the pursuit of life's business, he has been by no means indifferent to or neglectful of the claims which every community have upon the citizen ; but has at all times promptly recognized what- ever call his fellow-citizens might make for his best counsel and active help. As a leading or- ganizer and the first President of the Tri-State Fair Association, in 1876, he contributed largely to the exceptional success which has marked the history of that enterprise, which, without working capital, during the seven years of Mr. Baumgardner's service as President of the As- sociation, took in over $260,000, paid larger premiums and larger dividends on its stock than any other similar institution in the coun- try, at the same time accumulating permanent improvements to the amount of $60,000, without indebtedness of any sort. Mr. Baumgardner was active and effective in the organization of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange, which for several years bore a prominent and useful part in the promotion of the mercantile and industrial interests of Toledo. From his early residence here, he has been identified largely with whatever concerned the religious, moral, educational or material well-being of the City-never hesitating or stopping to consider personal ease or personal popularity, when duty seemed to call. In political affairs, he has acted with the Republican party, in whose couneils he has been potential for the prevalence of the policy and aim of patriotism and purity. In 1879, he was the candidate of his party for Mayor of Toledo, being defeated with his asso- ciate nominees, though receiving the compli- ment of the support of many political opponents;

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 153

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