History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 81

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 81


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between 300 oil wells on the West and 50 gas wells on the East, thus giving it special advantages for the traffic growing out of those great interests. The officers of the Company for ISSS are: Directors-T. P. Brown, W. T. Walker, J. H. Doyle, A. W. Scott, J. F. Cline, of Toledo; and J. F. Burket, of Findlay. Pres- ident and General Manager, T. P. Brown; Vice President, W. T. Walker; Treasurer, A. W. Scott; General Counsel, J. Il. Doyle. The officers of the Toledo and Indianapolis Company were-President and Treasurer, T. P. Brown; Vice President, W. T. Walker; Secretary, J. F. Burket.


THE TOLEDO, SAGINAW AND MUSKEGON RAILWAY.


The Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Rail- way Company was organized December, 1886, with the following stockholders : J. M. Ashley, Toledo, Ohio ; Wm. Baker, Toledo, Ohio; Jno. Cummings, Toledo, Ohio; D. Robison, Jr., Toledo, Ohio ; E. Middleton, Greenville, Mich- igan ; L. G. Mason, Muskegon, Michigan.


David Robison, Jr., was elected President, and Wm. Baker, Secretary and Treasurer.


The Road as now built extends from Ashley, on the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railway, to Muskegon, on Lake Michigan-a distance of 95.8 miles.


The general offices of the Company are lo cated at Muskegon, and the following are its present officers : David Robison, Jr., President ; W. V. McCracken, Vice President and General Manager; J. F. Pennington, Secretary ; B. F. Reed, Superintendent ; J. K. McCracken, Au- ditor and G. F. and P. Agent.


THE SWAN CREEK RAILROAD.


This Road was projected in 1875, by Conrad Huberich and Emil Richers. Mr. Iluberich was a resident of Texas at the outbreak of the Rebellion, and being a citizen loyal to the Gov- ernment of the United States, found it expe- dient to withdraw from Texas, when he came to Toledo. Soon thereafter he purchased of Peter Lenk, with gold at 180 per cent. pre- mium, a large tract of land, lying along Swan Creek (Northwest side). This purchase was made with the view of giving the property Railway facilities in addition to its water con- nection, and thus to promote both lumber traffic and manufactures. The enterprise met with substantial encouragement, and the work of construction commenced in the Spring of 1876, and the Road opened for traffic in August fol- lowing. The line started at Division Street, and ran along and near Swan Creek to Air-Line Junction of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, with which Road connection was made. On the organization of the Swan Creek Railroad Company, Mr. Iluberich was elected President, and Mr. Richers Secretary. For a few years the traffic of the Road, owing


to a lack of business along its line, was small. The managers tried to extend the Road down Hamilton Street and along Erie, but for lack of right of way were not successful in such pur- pose. In 1881, the Road passed into the bands of Mr. Carl F. Braun, when the Company was re-organized, with Mr. Braun as President, and Theo. Berkmann as Secretary, who yet hokl those positions. They have extended the Road from the intersection of Bismarck to Hamilton Street, and connected it with the Toledo, Cin- cinnati and St. Louis (now Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City) Road. A third rail was put down, thereby enabling that Road to transport its cars over the Swan Creek Road.


TOLEDO, ST. LOUIS AND KANSAS CITY RAIL- ROAD.


In May, 1879, the Toledo, Delphos and Bur- lington Railroad Company was organized, as a consolidation of the following named Com- panies : 1. The Toledo, Delphos and Indian- apolis Railway Company, organized in 1872. 2. The Toledo and Maumee Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, incorporated in 1872. 3. The Delphos and Kokomo Railroad Company, incorporated in 1877. 4. The Delphos, Bluff- ton and Frankfort Railroad Company, incor- porated in 1877. In 1880 the new Company was consolidated with the Dayton, Covington and Toledo Railroad Company, the new Com- pany taking the name of Toledo, Delphos and Burlington Railroad Company. In March, 18SI, the Company was consolidated with the Dayton and Sontheastern Railroad Company, whose proposed line was from Dayton, via Chillicothe, to Gallipolis, Ohio, 144 miles, which has been constructed. April 15, 1881, a certi- ficate was filed for the construction of a branch from Dayton to Lebanon, to connect with the Cincinnati Northern Railway; and in May, 1881, a certificate was filed for the construction of a branch from Wellston to Ironton, the Northern terminus of the Ironton and flunt- ington Railroad.


RAILWAY MISCELLANY.


As showing who were among the active Rail- way managers 30 years ago, record is here given of conferences held by the representatives of the various Roads then constituting the through lines from New York to the West. The first meeting was held at Buffalo, in April, 1857, of which Erastus Corning, of the New York Con- tral Road, was President, and C. C. Dennis, of the Mad River and Erie, was Secretary.


The principal object of this Conference was understood to be to arrange a time-table for the several Roads represented, which previously bad been run without desirable connections of trains. For the preparation of such table the following Committee was appointed :


Chauncey Vibbard, New York Central; S. S. Post, New York and Erie ; M. L. Sykes, Hudson River ; H.


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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.


Nottingham, Cleveland and Erie; R. N. Brown, Buf- falo and Eric ; E. B. Phillips, Cleveland and Toledo ; Sam. Brown, Michigan Sonthern and Northern In- diana ; E. S. Flint, Cleveland, Columbus and Cinein- nati; W. II. Clement, Little Miami, and Columbus and Xenia; C. C. Dennis, Mad River ; George H. Burrows, Toledo, Wabash and Western ; E. Sargent, Boston and Worcester; Henry Gray, Western ; John Brough, Bellefontaine and Indiana ; S. L. M. Barlow, Ohio and Mississippi ; J. M. Smith, Indiana Central.


Under the time-table agreed upon, a train left New York at 6 A. M .; reached Buffalo at 8 P. M .; Toledo at 9:20 A. M., and Chicago at 6 P. M .- time, 36 hours. Leaving Chicago at 5 A. M. passengers reached New York at 3 P. M. the next day, or within 34 hours. This ar- rangement did not provide for through trains, as now run, but only for connections of Roads. At the same time the Freight Agents of the several Roads made arrangements for Freight Express Trains from Boston and New York to the Mississippi.


A Convention of proprietors and managers of Ohio Railways was held at Columbus, Septem- ber 23, 1857, of which George W. Robinson was President, and E. S. Flynt and George Barnes, Secretaries. The following named representa- tives were present :


Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago-G. W. Cass, President ; J. H. Moore, Superintendent ; Geo. W. Robinson, Freight Agent.


('leveland and Pittsburg-J. Durand, Superin- tendent.


Columbus, Piqua and Indiana-John M. Watkins, Superintendent; Geo. W. Fulton, B. Walkup.


Cleveland and Toledo-E. B. Phillips, Superin- tendent.


Cleveland and Erie-William Case, President ; 11. Nottingham, Superintendent.


Olmo and Mississippi- Andrew Tallcott, President ; Wm. Il. Clement, Superintendent ; P. W. Strader, General Ticket Agent.


Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville-Joseph J. Jest.


Terre Haute and Richmond-E. J. Peck.


Steubenville and Indiana-Thomas S. Jewett, President; W. W. Bagley, Superintendent.


Buffalo and Erie - R. N. Brown, Superintendent. Indiana Central and Dayton and Western-James M. Smith.


Mad River and Lake Erie - C. C. Dennis, Superin- tendent ; John M. Osborn, General Freight Agent.


Totedo, Wabash and Western-Warren Colburn, Vice President ; George II. Burroughs, Superin- tendent.


indianapolis and Cincinnati-H. C. Lord, Presi- dent.


Cleveland and Mahoning-Chas. L. Rhodes, Vice- President and Superintendent.


Marietta and Cincinnati-George Barnes, Superin- tendent ; John Foggett, General Ticket Agent ; S. T. DeFord, General Freight Agent.


Little Miami-Captain Jacob Strader, President ; J. N. Kinney, General Freight Agent.


Columbus and Xenia-William Dennison, Jr., President ; Robert Neil.


Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati -L. M. Hub- by, President ; E. S. Flynt, Superintendent ; Addison JJills, General Freight Agent ; H. C. Marshall, Gen- eral Ticket Agent.


Central Ohio-D. G. Gray, General Freight Agent ; J. W. Baldwin.


Michigan Central - George Williams, General Agent.


Chicago, Burlington and Quincy-C. G. Ham- mond, General Superintendent.


Galena and C. W .- P. A. Hall, General Superin- tendent.


Bellefontaine Line-John Brough, President ; E.S. Spencer, General Freight Agent.


Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton-C. C. Dennis. Jeffersonville-P. E. Sickles, Master of Transpor- tation.


The matter of Railway management in many of its details was considered, and many regu- lations in respeet thereto were adopted. Among others, it was decided to grant passes only lo "employes and persons or agents in the regular service of the Company, and for charitable purposes." It was at first voted to limit the speed of short Roads to 26 miles per hour for Day Express trains; 22 miles for Mail trains; and 24 miles for Night Expresses, including stops ; with the privilege of longer (or Trunk ) lines to run as fast as they pleased ; but this was reconsidered and dropped.


In October, 1857, Stock rates were as follows :


East St. Louis to Buffalo (per car) $170 for Cattle, and $145 for fogs; from Chicago, $125 and $105; from Indianapolis, $105 and $90. Short distances- Under 10 miles, 60 cents per mile ; 40 miles, 35 cents ; 100 miles, 22 cents ; over 100 miles, 20 cents.


JAMES B. MONROE was born at Lewiston, Canada, near Niagara Falls, November 10. 1826, where his parents were temporarily re- siding In 1834 the family removed to San- dusky, Ohio. Here was spent the balance of the son's childhood and his youth, and here he began the business life which was long and so successfully prosecuted. His advent in self- support was as a Clerk in the general mercan - tile establishment of Hubbard & Co., in which position he continued until placed in charge of the Warehouse of the same firm, including a large freight and grain business. With G. Henry Peck, he established the Dry Goods house of Monroe & Peck, which soon became specially prominent and successful, and for many years commanded its full share of the best trade of Sandusky and neighboring coun- try and Towns. In variety and quality of stock it was not excelled by any store. In 1862, desiring a change of business, Mr. Monroe accepted the position of Solicitor of Freight for the Dayton and Michigan Railroad, and as such was soon so far successful, that he was ap- pointed Agent of that Road at Dayton. And such was his success in that position and the development of his special capacity for Railway business, that in 1863, he was appointed Local Agent of the Dayton and Michigan and Cin- cinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroads at To- ledo, to which City he then removed. He soon became the General Agent of these Roads. Not long thereafter he became interested in and the Manager of the Grain Elevators of these Roads


Yours truly


ПРВИХ


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at Toledo, which relation he sustained until his retirement from active business, caused by fail- ing health, in 1884. Throughout more than 20 years of Railway connection he maintained the character of an able, discreet and efficient man- ager, with results specially protitable to the interests committed to his charge. It may justly be stated, that he had in Toledo no su- perior in that respect. He was a member of the Toledo Board of Trade and of the Toledo Produce Exchange for about 20 years, serving repeatedly as Director and Vice President of the latter. While thus constant in devotion to business cares, he was not unmindful of social and other relations and responsibilities. For several terms he served as vestryman and as Treasurer of Trinity Church, Toledo, as he also did as member of the Advisory Board of the Ilome for Friendless Women ; while the cause of the poor and needy, without distinction to creed or nationality, ever met a ready welcome at his hands. In 1876 he purchased a very pleasant Villa at Put-in Bay, including a Grapery of 20 acres, which he has cultivated to high degree, and which has produced some of the choicest fruit of the Island. Since such purchase, Mr. Monroe and family have made that their Summer home, where have been dis- pensed social hospitalities with special liberal- ity. Mr. Monroe was married at Norwalk, Ohio, July 24, 1849, with Miss Mary J. Morse. They have had two children-Clara, who died in childhood, and Minnie, wife of Captain John J. Ilunker, of the United States Navy.


THEOPHILUS P. BROWN was born at Whately, Franklin County, Massachusetts, January 5, 1835, being the fourth of a family of ten children. His parents, yet living in Massachusetts, and now over 85 years of age, are George and Almira Brown. They are of the true Puritan stock. The father of the mother was a Soldier of the War of 1812-15. The early advantages of the son, outside a true Christian parentage, were limited, and he soon found himself dependent mainly on re- sources to be found within himself. The father was a tradesman, and the son learned a trade -that of broom-making, which was his occupa- tion during winters, his summers being em- ployed on the farm. When 18 years old he went to Deerfield Academy, where he speut one year in close study, whereby he was en- abled to gain fair knowledge of the branches most important in practical life. At the age of 20 years (1855) he started out on life's mis- sion, and coming West he stopped at Tecum- seh, Michigan, where he spent three years. In May, 1858, he came to Toledo and at once en- gaged in the Insurance business, in which he continued successfully for a period of 19 years. So long was he connected with the Phoenix Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, that for designation he became to


be known as " Phoenix" Brown. In 1870, Mr. Brown devised an enterprise which has given his name a permanent place among the ener- getic and pushing citizens of Toledo. His plan consisted in the purchase of 160 acres of land adjoining the City, which was platted with reference to meeting the wants of the large population with moderate means, specially including working classes. To this end. the lots, in price, were brought within reach of many who then were hopeless of homes of their own. The property was known, and is still known as " Brown's Addition." To make the locality more readily accessible, Mr. Brown constructed a Street Railway two miles in length, which furnished cheap and prompt communication with other portions of the City. Subsequently, additions were made to the original plat, the whole constituting a most valuable accession to Toledo's accommodations. In 1881, Mr. Brown turned his attention to the matter of constructing a Railway between Toledo and Indianapolis, Indiana, via Findlay. Such project had long been under discussion at Toledo and along the proposed route, but. without definite steps being taken to that end. It was not long ere he was successful in organ- izing the Toledo and Indianapolis Railroad Company, of which he was made the President. That portion of the line between Toledo and Findlay was completed and put in operation in May, 1883. The Company was re-organized in March, 1885, under the name of the Toledo, Columbus and Southern Railway Company, Mr. Brown still remaining the President and General Manager. The discoveries of the great oil and natural gas fields in Wood and Hancock Counties, have given to this Railroad special importance, the localities in question being along the line of and in the vicinity of its track. These accessions of vast wealth cannot fail directly to bring new traffic to the Road, while as resources for the settlement and development of the country concerned, they will indirectly supply much trade. Mr. Brown is giving special attention to the promotion of local traffic, 16 Stations having been established on the line of the Road in a distance of 45 miles, at which points industrial enterprises are rapidly appear- ing. Throughout his active lite, Mr. Brown has manifested not only an interest in matters common to his fellow-citizens, but by energy and push has contributed largely to the pro- motion of the same. In 1877 be was among the most active organizers of the Tri-State Fair Association at Toledo, which has had such eminent success. Casting his first Presi- dential vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, he has always acted with the Republican party. . In 1875, as a Republican candidate, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate in a District with a Democratic majority of 1,400. His legislative record was creditable to him.


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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.


Among the objects of his attention was the enactment of a law limiting taxation in Toledo and Lucas County, the effect of which has been materially to reduce the rate of local taxation. lle was enabled to do much toward the pro- tection of the people of the State from irres- ponsible and fraudulent Insurance schemes for which he was specially qualified by his long experience in and intimate knowledge of that business. April 17, 1861, Mr. Brown was married with Miss Frances A., daughter of Isaac and Harriet N. Hampton, of Toledo and formerly of Tecumseh, Michigan. In 1873, they visited Europe, and the West Indies in 1875. Mr. Brown has been a member of the First Congregational Church for many years, as leader of the choir of which he long con- tributed very materially to the public services of the same. Like aid has been liberally rendered by him to a great variety of religious and other worthy objects. His home is in the substantial and elegant residence, Northeast corner of Madison and Thirteenth Streets.


TOLEDO STREET RAILWAYS.


Toledo was not behind other Cities of its size, and far ahead of most of those of its age, in the provision of the important improvement in transportation supplied by Street Railways.


The first definite step taken toward such end, was the organization of the TOLEDO STREET RAILROAD COMPANY, November 20, 1860, when the City contained no more than 14,000 inhab- itants. The Directors of the Company were M. R. Waite, C. B. Phillips, Wm. H. Raymond, Wm. Baker, James C. Hall aud John T. New- ton, of Toledo; and Silas Merchant of Cleve- land. Mr. Merchant was elected President. The first grant of privilege for such work, was made by the City Council February 11, 1861, and extended from the then boundary line be- tween Toledo and Manhattan, along Summit Street to the bridge over the Canal ; and thence, by Ottawa Street and Broadway, to the bridge of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail- way. Cars were first put on the Road May 27th, 1862, running between Bush and Perry Streets every half hour from 6:00 A. M. till 9:00 P. M., the fare being five cents. C. Yardley was then the Superintendent. The records of this Company now available are very incomplete, until September, 1865, when a change in its management took place. Up to that time, the Road had been controlled and chiefly owned by Cleveland parties, who then disposed of their interests to citizens of Toledo, when the following Directors were chosen: Edward P. Bassett, Francis L. Nichols, I. R. Sherwood, Edward H. Harger, Patrick H. Blake, John T. Newton, Win. Baker and James C. Hall, with E. P. Bassett as President, J. T. Newton as Secretary, and I. R. Sherwood as Treasurer. In January, 1868, J. D. Cook became Presi- dent, and Mars Nearing Secretary and Treas-


urer. January, 1869, Chas. B. Roff was elected President, and J. D. Cook Secretary and Treas- urer. Mr. Roff continued as President until January, 1876. In 1872, Mr. Nearing became Secretary and Treasurer, serving as such until January, 1876, at which time C. B. Roff was elected Treasurer, M. N. Baker Secretary, and J. E. Bailey President. In 1882 the priv- ilege was obtained to construct a branch road from the intersection of Summit and Cherry, across the River bridge and across Bridge Street to Starr Avenue, East Toledo.


THE ADAMS STREET RAILWAY COMPANY Was organized in April, 1869, when T. M. Cook, W. H. Machen, Henry Philipps, R. H. Bell and Ed. H. Fitch were elected Directors, who chose the following officers : President, R. II. Bell ; Treasurer, Z. C. Pheatt; Secretary, Chas. E. Bliven. In May, 1869, the Company con- tracted with Phillip Welker for the construction of a track from Summit to Bancroft Street. In consequence of financial inability, the Company was for several years greatly embarrassed in the prosecution of its enterprise, and the Road passed through several different bands. In 1873 its track was extended from Bancroft Street, along Collingwood Avenne, to its inter- section with Cherry Street. In 1875 Joel W. Kelsey was the President, and Z. C. Pheatt the Secretary of the Company, January 1, 1885, the Company was consolidated with other corporations.


THE MONROE STREET RAILROAD COMPANY was organized in January, 1873. The first meeting of stockholders was held October 23, 1873, when the following Directors were chosen : H. S. Walbridge, John Fitch, Alex. Reed, A. E. Macomber, Win. H. Scott, W. I. Kelley and Henry S. Stebbins, who elected the following officers : President, IL. S. Wałbridge; Secretary and Treasurer, H. S. Stebbins. The grant made in 1874 was for a Railroad on Monroe Street from Summit Street to Auburn Avenne. In 1877 the Road was leased to T. P. Brown for 15 years, at which time the following Di- rectors were chosen : T. P. Brown, J. H. Hamp- ton, J. D. Irving, J. K. Hamilton, D. W. Stroud, R. S. McGarvey and H. C. Hahn, the officers being as follows: President and Treasurer, T. P. Brown ; Secretary, J. D. Irving. January 3, 1881, the following Directors were chosen : J. S. Brumback, Van Wert, Ohio; O. S. Brum- back, J. HI Ainsworth, C. Elliott and Geo. S. Dana, who elected O. S. Brumback President, and C. Elliott as Secretary. Jannary 1, 1885, the Company was consolidated with others.


THE TOLEDO UNION STREET RAILROAD COM- PANY was organized in 1869, for the construc- tion and operation of a Railroad from Summit Street, along Monroe, Ontario, Washington and Dorr Streets to Detroit Avenue. Of this Com- pany T. P. Brown was the President. Its busi- ness was not successful, and in 1873 the Road passed into the hands of the MONROE and DORR


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STREET COMPANY, organized in 1875, with the following named officers : President and Treas- urer, T. P. Brown ; Secretary, J. D. Irving; Directors, T. P. Brown, J. K. Hamilton, J. D. Irving, J. II. Ilampton, D. W. Stroud, J. D. Ford and R. S. McGarvey. In 1881, were elected Directors as follows: Albion E. Lang, Frank W. Bainbridge, Elijah W. Lenderson, Robert Cummings and J. K. Hamilton, who chose A. E. Lang as President and Treasurer, and F. W. Bainbridge as Secretary. In Janu- ary, 1885, this corporation was consolidated with others.


THE TOLEDO CONSOLIDATED STREET RAIL- WAY COMPANY-embracing the Toledo Street Railroad, the Adams Street Railroad, the Mon- roe Street Railroad, and the Monroe and Dorr Street Railroad Companies-was organized in January, 1885, with D. E. Bailey, J. E. Bailey, James Dority, Richard Waite and A. E. Lang, as Directors; J. E. Bailey, as President; and A. E. Lang, as Secretary. At this time (1887), J. E. Bailey is President and Treasurer; and J. Gilmartin, Superintendent.


THE METROPOLITAN STREET RAILWAY. The Lagrange Street Railway Company was incor- porated May 31, 1872, the corporators being HI. S. Wałbridge, A. E. Macomber, Wager Swayne, Win. Baker, Edgar H. Van Hoesen and Edward D. Moore. The route of the line was along Lagrange Street, from Summit Street to the Manhattan Road and Catholic Cemeteries, a distance of over two miles. November 8, 1872, the stockholders organized by electing Geo. Baker as President, and A. E. Macomber as Secretary of the Company. The Road was completed in October, 1873, equipped with four cars, and was leased for five years to Melchior Weber. At the end of this lease, the enterprise had so completely failed as a business venture, that it was found impracticable to give it away -franchise, track, cars and privileges. This result was due largely to the fact, that real estate investments along the line of the Road, in support of which, largely, it had been built, had not met the confident expectations of the proprietors. This outcome was no doubt in great measure due to the general financial pros- tration following the panic of 1873. Another important fact in the case, consisted in the mis- take of locating the Road's main terminus (at Summit Street) three-fourths of a mile from the business center of the City, with no pro- vision for transfer of traffic with the only Rail- road reaching that center. Such was the sith- ation in 1878, when Mr. Geo. Baker, in consid- eration of his landed interests on the line, took the Road in hand, confident that it could be made self-sustaining. To this end he mapped out a new route and made other changes, re- sulting in what now is the Metropolitan Street Railway. Early in 1879, he had secured per- mission for the extension of the Road from Lagrange Street, via Bancroft, Cherry and St.




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