USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Memoirs of the Miami valley > Part 77
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St. Mary's school was first established in 1853 and placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity, the first school house standing on
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the space now used as St. Mary's playground. About the time Rev. E. P. Hickey became pastor of St. Mary's church in 1899, the Sis- ters of Mercy succeeded the Sisters of Charity as teachers, and they still are in charge today. In 1897 the present school house was built on North street to the rear of the church. St. Mary's school has for years maintained a high standard. `At present there are 251 pupils, 45 of these being enrolled on the High School department added to 1915 which is affiliated with the Catholic University of America at Washington, D. C.
The first school of St. Boniface was held in the rear part of the church, and opened in January, 1856. In the spring of 1857 an- other school room was added to the building. In 1889 a new school building was erected at the northwest corner of Downing and Miami streets and the school has prospered under the care of the Sisters of Christian Charity. There are now 230 pupils and a three-year commercial course has been added to the curriculum.
Piqua Newspapers. The Piqua Gazette, issued July 6, 1820, was the first newspaper to be published in Miami county. William R. Barrington, who came here from Philadelphia, was editor and owner. On June 23, 1829, Jeremiah Dooley assumed sole control until September 30, 1834, when he sold to Dr. J. B. Gregory and not many months later passed out of existence. The second news- paper to make its appearance in Piqua was the "Western Courier" and Piqua Enquirer, the first issue coming out March 14, 1835. This was a weekly paper and the publishers were Murray & Espy. A year and a half later W. R. Barrington bought this weekly and held it until 1840 when it was acquired by Jonathan Vaile, who re- christened it "The Piqua Intelligencer," only retaining control a year. December 4, 1841, he bought the property and "The Piqua Register" was published Saturdays. Writer and Bradings bought "The Piqua Register" in November, 1858, but publication lapsed in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil war. This paper had first been an advocate of the principles of the old Whig party and became "Republican" in politics under John W. DeFrees.
No Democratic paper was in existence until 1847 when a stock company was formed and the Piqua Enquirer was bought out with D. M. Fleming as editor, who afterwards purchased the paper. In 1860 Mr. Fleming changed the politics of the paper from Demo- cratic to Republican and the name to The Piqua Journal. This paper was published in 1901 when it was consolidated with the Weekly Leader, taking the title of the Leader Journal.
A daily paper had also been started in Piqua back in 1886 by D. M. Fleming called "The Piqua Daily Dispatch" and this daily and the weekly paper "The Leader Journal," were both published by Mr. Fleming until his death, January 26, 1898. Ed. Wilbee took charge of the two papers until they were sold to George Long and several of his friends and became Democratic.
In the meanwhile, the "Miami Democrat" came into existence in 1860, after the Piqua Enquirer became a Republican paper and this paper came into the possession of J. C. Smiley & Company in 1875. Seven years later this weekly paper became "The Miami Leader," and in 1887 the publication of a daily paper, called the
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Piqua Daily Leader, was commenced. Henry Kampf bought these papers in 1895 and six years later also bought the Piqua Daily Dis- patch and the weekly journal and combined the two weeklies into the Weekly Journal and the two dailies into The Piqua Leader Dis- patch. The publication of weekly papers in Piqua ceased in 19II.
"The Miami Helmet" was a weekly paper published first in the interests of temperance, with Isaac S. Morris as editor. The first issue was brought out August 6, 1874, and Morris remained editor until his death February 3, 1905. John W. Morris, son of I. N. Morris, was editor of The Piqua Morning Call, first published October 18, 1883, and three months later it was changed to an evening paper called The Piqua Daily Call. John Morris published the "Miami Helmet" and The Piqua Daily Call until his death April 23, 1906. These papers were then sold to "The Call Publish- ing Company," with H. R. Snyder as editor. In 1909 The Piqua Publishing Company was reorganized and Merritt C. Speidel be- came editor and manager.
January 1, 1917, the Piqua Daily Press was first issued by The Press Publishing company with various editors during its short life of three years. The Piqua Call, The Piqua Leader Dispatch and The Piqua Press have all three just been consolidated by J. A. Chew and C. F. Ridenour, of Xenia, who expect to publish both a morning and evening paper.
The Miami Post, a weekly paper published in German by August Bartel since August 2, 1894, ceased publication April 17, 1919. This paper had originated with Boni Hemsteger, who bought it out April 17, 1878, as The Piqua Correspondent.
About 1873, Wilson J. Vance, later a noted newspaper corre- spondent, commenced the publication of the first daily paper ever printed in Piqua, and probably at that time the only daily in the United States, in a town of its size. The paper was called the Miami Valley News. ,It was a very creditable sheet, but was far too much in advance of its day, and soon suspended.
Industries of Piqua. Grist mills were of the most primitive type in pioneer days and John Manning was the first to build a water power mill in this locality, putting it up on the Miami river near what is now the corner of Harrison and Water streets.
In 1839 the water power from the lock on the canal was utilized by B. B. Beall, who built a small frame flour mill. A year later this was replaced by a large plant owned by Joseph G. Young and Mr. Yager. In 1872 O'Ferrall & Daniels put up a brick flour mill, which was burned seven years later, having been sold to Conrad Amendt, who was the next miller of importance. He rebuilt, and his plant is that of The Piqua Milling company today.
During the '70s and '8os Piqua was the most important linseed oil center in the world. As many as a hundred carloads of flax- seed could frequently be seen on the tracks for unloading.
Manufacturing of linseed oil and its by-product of oil cake con- tinued until the absorption of the Piqua mills in 1892 by the Amer- ican Linseed Oil company, who soon after, closed them down. The first linseed oil manufacturer was John McCorkle, who built a small mill on the west side of the Miami river a mile and a half
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south of town in 1824. Among the early oil men were Thomas Bellas, Theodore Hale, Asa Lampher, John O'Ferrall and Dr. G. V. Dorsey. Sawyer & Son sold their oil mill south of town near Far- rington to Delos C. Ball in 1855, who sold it to Orr, Kendall & Leonard in 1870. This mill was later absorbed by the W. P. Orr Linseed Oil company.
In this company William P. Orr had associated with him his brothers, J. W. Orr and C. W. Orr. This company also acquired the large mill that had been built on the corner of Main street and the railroad in 1879, by Orr, Leonard & Daniels, and operated the two mills until 1902.
W. W. Wood and his son, H. K. Wood, were also linseed oil men. In 1865, W. W. Wood and Mark N. Megrue bought the oil mill that had been built by George C. DeFrees on the west side of town, where the Piqua Paper Box company is now located at Covington avenue and College street. Megrue withdrew and the company's name changed to W. W. Wood & Sons. In 1874, E. Farrington came in and the company was known under the name of Wood, Farrington & Co. This firm finally was absorbed by the National Linseed Oil trust, afterward the American Linseed Oil com- pany.
Leonard, Daniels & Johnston built a linseed oil mill on the southwest corner of Wayne and Sycamore streets, operating it until it burned in 1879, and also built and for a time operated another mill on the hydraulic. The Champion Paper Cutter company's building now occupies this site.
Loomis, Reiter & Wall built the first paper mill here in 1876, at the west end of North street on the hydraulic. This mill manu- factured coarse wrapping paper at first and later strawboard, and is now owned and operated by the American Strawboard company. A second mill to manufacture strawboard was built in 1880 by Francis Jarvis, W. P. Orr, Lewis Leonard, Harvey Clark and G. N. Ziegenfelder. This mill was put up to use the water power of the hydraulic race emptying into Rocky Branch creek at the south end of Main street. It was acquired by the American Strawboard company in 1899 after some very prosperous business years, but fire destroyed the plant in 1901.
At one time there were three carriage and buggy factories located in Piqua. The first carriage maker was W. R. Crozier, who started his first little place in 1835 between Downing and North streets. This business continued until 1881 when it was sold to Crozier & Wilbee and terminated in 1892. R. P. Spiker started to build carriages in 1859 and in 1880 organized the Spiker Wagon company with a factory on West High street. Curtis & Reed built some very fine buggies and carriages, their first factory being opened January 1, 1878, at the corner of Wayne and Water streets, on the site now occupied by the Imperial Underwear company. The En- terprise Carriage company was in existence on North Main street from 1890 to 1902 when the plant was destroyed by fire.
The Piqua School Furniture Company was the outgrowth of Piqua Lumber company that had been organized in 1890 by W. P. Orr, S. K. Statler, Moses G. Spencer, J. H. Clark, Thomas Aspinall
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and Charles Barnett. School desks and other furniture were manu- factured until the plant was absorbed by the American School Fur- niture company and closed down. The Hartzell Propeller Works now occupy the buildings formerly occupied by this company, who had built upon the old foundations of the Blackie Twine factory which flourished in the '80s.
Piqua Rolling Mill and Cincinnati Corrugating Company. Before reaching the subject of present day industries, a glance back- wark will reveal a cycle of prosperity in the city's life that covered the life of the Corrugating company and the Piqua Rolling mills. Experienced and high priced men were employed and the pay roll averaged $35,000 a month. Homes were established by the work- ing men and the population was increased by 1,500. The Cincinnati Corrugating Works was moved here bodily in 1899 and The Piqua Rolling Mill company was organized to manufacture the iron plates used by the Corrugating Works.
These two companies occupied thirty-four and one-half acres in the south part of town from South Main street to what was for- merly the Main line tracks of the C. H. & D. before the Pennsylvania railway built its present elevation, and from Summit street to the Hemm road. Only one of the buildings put up by this company is still in existence, and that is a brick building used by them as a paint shop. Col. J. G. Batelle and James Hicks moved here from Cincinnati at the time, Mr. Hicks having been the heaviest stock- holder in the Cincinnati company.
The officers of the two companies were the same : James Hicks, president; J. G. Batelle, vice president and general manager ; Ed. Hart, treasurer. W. P. Orr and John Daniels were interested in these enterprises. Mr. Batelle made Piqua his home until 1900 when he left for New York City and later to Columbus where he became an important factor in the Columbus Iron & Steel company. His death occurred in Columbus, May 10, 1918, not very long after the Columbus company was merged into the American Rolling Mill company. Mr. Hicks remained in Piqua making this his home until his death, Christmas eve, 1901. It was in Piqua at the rolling mill that the first strictly American tin plate was made during McKinley's campaign for president. Mckinley stopped here on his campaign and personally dipped some of the plates. In 1902 these plants were bought by the American Sheet & Tin Plate com- pany, and were closed down completely by the U. S. Steel company in 1906.
Wood, Shovel & Tool Company. Piqua justly has pride in the Wood, Shovel & Tool company's modern plant on South avenue and Clarke street, with its commodious buildings of pressed brick and reinforced concrete so designed as to be distinctly restful to the eyes of the neighborhood and to the passer-by. The original site was partly occupied by the old Callender company, who manufac- tured wire fence. This old plant was purchased and in 1903 the Wood Shovel & Tool company was incorporated with H. K. Wood, its founder, as president and general manager; S. S. Gould, vice president and sales manager, and W. W. Wood as secretary and treasurer. In 1912 the death of Mr. Gould occurred when W. W.
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Wood became vice president and treasurer, and Charles C. Procter, secretary.
Just a year after the incorporation of the company, in 1903, a fire occurred that totally destroyed the original buildings, and the first new buildings were constructed. The products of the plant are shovels, spades and scoops of all description. Twenty-four hundred different styles of shovels alone are produced, the different countries demanding their own design of shovel, and the different industries requiring the shovels best adapted to their various needs. The miner requires one design, the railway companies have their own idea of what they need to help build their miles of railroad, while the farmer differs still in his requirements of the type of shovel he needs to dig the soil.
In the early days of its existence this company's output was 20,000 dozen per annum, increased by degrees to 150,000 dozen per annum. The factory floor space at the time of writing is more than six times the original space. From 150 to 175 men are em- ployed and everything possible is done for their comfort and con- venience. A space has been reserved in one of the main buildings to be eventually used as a recreation and dining hall, with plans for carrying out the latest idea for welfare work, even a motion picture machine will be installed. There will be shower baths. lockers, etc., for the comfort of the men. The administrative build- ing contains perhaps the most modern and convenient offices in the city. Across the way a small park was created by the company with well-kept lawn, hedge, shrubbery and flowers to make the outlook attractive from the factory.
Mr. Wood started at the inception of the company with the idea of making it famous for the quality of the tools manufactured. This aim has been attained, as a world-wide reputation for its products attests. The machinery is all modern, all original machin- ery having been discarded, and some special machinery even being made by their own employes. It is now conceded to be the largest and most modern shovel factory in the world, with its foreign export business expanding every year and most especially in Africa and South America.
While the main office is in Piqua, branch offices have been established in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Texas and Atlanta, Ga., as well as offices in principal cities in foreign countries including Buenos Aires, South America, and Johannesburg in Africa. Most interesting in the history of the company is the part it played in the World war, furnishing the short intrenching shovel, one of the tools carried by every infantry private.
For several years before the war, the Wood Shovel & Tool company had enjoyed annual contracts from the government to furnish intrenching shovels to the Rock Island arsenal, so that when these shovels were needed for actual warfare, the company was in a position to supply them at once and the first order for shovels was sent by Uncle Sam to Piqua, and during the war, 1,250,000 shovels were furnished from this city. This factory filled its orders with so little delay that when the armistice was signed the contract then
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in execution was within one day of completion, making a unique record for efficiency.
The Piqua Hosiery Company ranks among those foremost in Miami county war work, having manufactured nearly two million shirts and drawers for the American Expeditionary Forces. Aside from its capacity, it is the largest underwear plant in Piqua, this organization has two bits of history associated with it which are of particular interest. First, it is the pioneer knitting company of Miami valley. Second, it originated the now almost universal union suit for men. The hosiery company was founded in July, 1886, by J. O. Neer, C. A. and C. L. Wood, Samuel Gross, A. J. Roe, C. Lang- don, H. C. Nellis, W. A. and C. A. Kitts, who elected the following officers: C. L. Wood, president; C. A. Kitts, vice-president; Clar- ence Langdon, treasurer; J. O. Neer, secretary. The first products of the hosiery company were stockings and mittens made on hand- operated machines, but attracted by the possibilities in underwear manufacture, it soon turned the bulk of its efforts in that direction, making shirts and drawers of high quality for men and women. Very early the founders conceived the idea of a combination gar- ment for men and after much experiment they evolved the first com- mercially practical union suit.
The company began with a capital of $8,800 and a staff of half a dozen workers. Today it has a capitalization of one and one-half million dollars ($1,500,000) and employs nearly five hundred men and women. In 1886 it occupied a small three-story building, today it has expanded into a magnificent plant covering the entire block bounded by Ash, High, Spring streets and the canal. On the corner of Ash and Spring is the splendid daylight construction con- crete building which houses the administration offices and finishing department and adjoining is the original mill now used for shipping, restaurant and cloth storage.
The knitting division, bleaching and processing rooms are located in the big five-story building purchased from the Meteor Motor Car company in 1918 and the three-story building on the corner of High and Spring is used for yarn storage. Wash rooms and showers of the most approved type have been installed, drink- ing fountains are maintained on all floors, and a restaurant is con- ducted without profit for the convenience of the employees. The Piqua Hosiery company is not a co-operative institution in the gen- erally accepted sense but many employees own stock and the basis of its pay system is a sharing in consistent production effort and waste saving.
W. K. Leonard, president, has been prominent in all the war activities of Miami county, having been chairman of the War Sav- ing Stamp campaign and chief of the American Protective league during the war period. F. M. Shipley, secretary and treasurer, was chairman of the factory committee in the various Liberty Loan drives. The present official board consists of: President, W. K. Leonard ; vice-president, J. W. Daniels (formerly of Piqua, now of Minneapolis); secretary, treasurer and general manager, F. W. Shipley.
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The Atlas Underwear Company. In just twenty years the Atlas Underwear company has grown to its present big propor- tions, with two manufacturing plants, one on North Downing street and Rundle avenue in this city and the other in Richmond, Ind., having a combined factory capacity to produce 4,500 dozen gar- ments a week, and employing about 800 men and women. The main business offices are in Piqua in a dignified four-story and base- ment structure of pressed brick, erected in 1905. Originally of three stories, a fourth story was added in 1909. An addition is in process of construction to the north of the present building to be four stories, also pressed brick, that, when completed, will be a model in every detail. In this new addition a modern cafeteria will be opened for the employees, rest rooms, library, etc., on the first floor and in the basement there will be shower baths. The upper floors will be devoted to manufacturing purposes. The subsidiary plant in Rich- mind is equally fine in appearance and completeness of its buildings and equipments. It is said to make the finest underwear for men of any factory in the world. A sales office at 346 Broadway, New York City, is conducted by Mr. Abe Louis.
The Atlas Underwear company was organized in 1899 with L. M. Flesh, president ; W. P. Orr, vice-president, and E. A. Todd, secretary. They bought the Piqua Underwear company that had an existence of but ten months in the old O'Ferrall factory and foun- dry on River street at Downing. The Piqua Underwear company was originated by E. A. Todd, Clarence Langdon and J. M. Cahill. Their first factory made children's, boys' and men's underwear, but its present product is men's suits exclusively. Originally incor- porated in 1899 at $75,000, the authorized capital stock has been increased to $1,000,000. The present officers are: L. M. Flesh, president ; A. L. Flesh and Abe Louis, vice-presidents ; H. E. Sims, secretary, and E. A. Todd, treasurer.
A signal tribute was paid Mr. L. M. Flesh, president of the com- pany, in his appointment as chairman of the Worsted Knit Under- wear committee of the Council of National Defense. It was his duty to see that the proper garments were supplied our soldiers, letting all contracts for the government on this class of merchandise. The Atlas Underwear company furnished the government 1,500,000 suits of underwear during the war. The women employees of the Atlas had their own Red Cross unit and gave up two evenings a week to the work in a room given over to that purpose in the factory building.
The Superior Underwear Company. When the manufacture of husk mattresses was discontinued by the Piqua Manufacturing com- pany, their factory building on Water street was occupied by J. P. Spiker and George Davidson, who organized the Superior Under- wear company and started to make underwear. In a very few months Spiker and Davidson moved to a building on "Five Points" across from the C. L. Woods lumber yards. Mr. Davidson withdrew from the company and left Mr. Spiker in control of this modest concern that employed but two or three girls. In 1900, a half inter- est was sold to J. L. Black, and the concern was moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, where they did a manufacturing business of under- wear for five years. In 1905 the Superior Underwear company pur-
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chased buildings and ground at their present location, corner of River and Downing streets, having capitalized for $10,000 the pre- vious year, and in 1906 were established in Piqua and had increased their capitalization to $50,000. Four years later the old plant of the Atlas Underwear company to the south of them was acquired and the present five-story concrete building was erected. This modern and convenient structure has a floor space of 110,000 square feet. The best grades of men's union suits are made, and this mill is the largest mill in the country making men's union suits sold direct to the retail trade, and every garment is sold under the Superior's own label.
Branch offices are located in New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and they have selling agents in Latin-America. The stock room in Germany has been closed. The Tippecanoe Under- wear Mills became a subsidiary plant of the Superior in 1913, and this mill took care of the big proportion of their war orders. Dur- ing the war, 60 per cent of the Superior's output was for govern- ment needs for the soldiers. Four-fifths of their five hundred em- ployees are women, and they have a machine capacity of 1,800 dozen garments a week. The Superior Underwear company is a strong factor in making Piqua the leading center in the country for the manufacture of fine underwear. At present the authorized cap- ital stock is $1,000,000 and the officers are J. P. Spiker, president and general manager; J. L. Black, secretary and treasurer ; Foster Stickler, assistant secretary and general manager; and J. E. Bryan, sales and advertising manager. J. L. Black, secretary and treasurer of this company, was the first president of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce and was the valued chairman of the War Loans Com- mittee.
The Imperial Underwear Company. With one knitter and two assistants, Mr. Charles E. Stuart made his entry into the manufac- turing world, and associating himself with John W. Brown, a com- pany was incorporated, known as the Stuart-Brown company, to make underwear. Their factory operations started in the old Brendel cabinet shop on South street between Main and Wayne streets. The company was incorporated January 22, 1902, and the board of directors consisted of Charles E. Stuart, John W. Brown, Allen D. Hance, George H. Rundle and Daniel Spencer. Later on Mr. Stuart purchased Mr. Brown's stock and the Stuart-Hance com- pany resulted. In 1913 the Stuart-Hance company was absorbed by the Imperial Underwear company, which was incorporated in 1909 by the same officers and the following board elected: Presi- dent, A. D. Hance; vice-president, George H. Rundle; treasurer and general manager, Charles E. Stuart; secretary, August Clouse. Mr. Stuart actively filled office until his death, which occurred in 1914, just as the success of the business he had primarily estab- lished had reached a most enviable stature in the underwear world.
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