USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > The first century of Piqua, Ohio > Part 20
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Some of the early carders besides McCorkle and Ross were John Stephenson, Collin Aldrich, G. D. Elliott, Tho. Bellas, Tho. Hale, Jas. Riley, Jas. Ensey, Tho. Clark, W. W. Ward, Stephen Johnston, and Wm. C. Boal.
With the passing of the home industry of spinning and weaving, the carding and fulling business lapsed many years ago.
TAN YARDS
The tanning of leather was carried on in Piqua at an early date, and though at first confined almost exclusively to the hides of wild ani- mals, especially deer, it soon became one of the leading industries of the town.
The first tan yard of which we have authentic record is that of Jos. Montgomery in 1809. It was located on south Main street where the present Wiley yard is situated, and has been in continuous operation since that date.
Montgomery was succeeded by his sons, William and Robert, and they by Martin Simpson in 1831. We are not sure of his successor, but t soon became the property of the Wileys who are now without competi- ion
Wm. Johnston had a tannery on his farm north-west of town in 1821, und McClure & Jenkinson had one previous to 1828. Other yards were hose of Carson, just back of the present traction office, and the Brown annery on the east side of River street where it leaves the canal. There vere several others in town of which we have only incomplete records. 'he tan-bark from these yards was used extensively for the early side- valks.
FURNITURE AND CABINET SHOPS
No doubt there were cabinet makers in Piqua previous to 1820, but ur first records are of that year, when Jos. Caldwell had a shop on Spring
st
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
street, and Montgomery & Bennett one in Union Hall. Jos. Bennett, succeeded by his son Wm. P. Bennett, were in this business over sixty years, and many of the old bureaus, chairs, and poster beds in the county must be credited to their workmanship. Robert Arheart was another pioneer in this line, his specialty, and that of his successor, Lewis Hughs, being chairs and spinning wheels.
Other early cabinet makers were F. P. Tinkham, 1830; Cone & Shan- non, 1834; Benj. Mathews, 1836; Walkup & McClure, 1837; and R. F. Cole, 1839.
Later furniture men were R. Muchmore, who owned the first hearse in Piqua ; W. L. Cron, Casper Brendel, August Fritsch, who were followed still later by Cron & Walker, Wagner & Groven, and F. C. Campbell.
When the manufacture of furniture by machinery became practical, L. C. & W. L. Cron started a small factory in Huntersville. This was in 1868, and they were the first in the field. Later this became a very large concern, and is still in active operation.
A. J. Cron and Robt. Kills started a furniture factory in the old Rouzer shop on north Main street in Jan., 1881. They were partially burned out in Oct., 1883, and in Nov., 1886, moved to their large new fac- tory in Huntersville where, after being twice burned out, are now doing an increasing business.
Other small shops have been in evidence at times, but at this date (1907) only the school-desk factory at the west end of Ash street is prom- inent among them.
PLANING MILLS AND LUMBER YARDS
The first factory to use power machinery for planing lumber and making doors and window-sash was that old brick on River street, just north-west of the Cheevers corner. It was built by Cavanaugh Dills about 1852, and the engine and machinery for its equipment was made by C. W. Bowdle. Dills sold out to Dickason & Moore in 1858, and they to Bolmeyer some years later. Bolmeyer sold to Gray & Murray in 1879 who used it for several years for a handle factory, and then sold to E. R. Farrington. It was then used as a cooper shop until it burned down in 1902.
The next planing mill was that of Wm. Humphreville in 1856. This was on the next lot north-west of Dills. It was afterward sold to A. G Butterfield who manufactured truss-hoops. It was torn down about the same date as the Farrington building.
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TAVERNS, INNS AND HOTELS, STORES, ETC.
The next planing mill was built by A. A. McCandliss in 1864. This was at the south-west corner of Wayne street and Rundle avenue. In 1879 he moved west, but returned in 1882 and resumed the business, con- tinuing until the shop burned in 1890.
Whitlock & Rouzer erected a mill on the south-west corner of Boone street and Broadway in 1869. This was afterward run by the Whitlocks until it was torn down in 1901.
A later mill was that of Hardesty & Speelman on west Water street.
About one block east of this mill was the lumber yard of A. W. Wright, who sold to C. A. & C. L. Wood in 1879. In 1883 this latter firm bought the old O'Farrell car shops across the street, and moving their yard to that place, are still doing a large business.
Another large lumber yard of the present is that of Wright & Kuntz at the corner of Chestnut and South streets. This is under the manage- ment of J. A. Shade.
Other lumber yards at various times between 1850 and 1907 were those of W. W. Brainard, D. Gray, Barnett & Chappell, and Jacobs & McLean.
FOUNDERIES AND MACHINE SHOPS
The first iron foundry in Piqua was that of Samuel Clegg, who had a small shop at the north end of Downing street in 1840.
C. W. Bowdle had a blacksmith shop near this point as early as 1838, and a few years later started a machine shop and foundry. This shop has been continued by his sons to the present time.
The next was the shop of Rouzer, Evans & Clark on north Main street in 1844. Evans drew out of the firm, but Rouzer & Clark contin- ued until about 1873, when they sold to W. R. Gearhard & Co., who quit the business about 1878.
John O'Ferrall & Co. started building heavy machinery at the north end of Downing street in 1851. This shop was burned in 1872, and they then built what was known as the "Car Shops" on west Water street. Not succeeding in getting orders for railroad cars, they turned their attention to threshing machines, cider presses, tile machines, etc.
They rebuilt their old shop on Downing street and moved back there in 1881, but later entirely quit the business.
This includes all of the earlier shops of this character, except the plow factory of John Reedy, across the street from O'Ferrall. He later occupied his present shop on north Main street, but quit making plows some years ago.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
PAPER MILLS
The paper mill of Loomis, Reiter & Wall, at the west end of North street, turned out their first paper on the night of Oct. 3, 1876.
After several changes in ownership this mill now belongs to the American Straw Board Co.
The mill on south Main street, at Rocky Branch, was built in 1880, entered the trust in 1899, and was destroyed by fire in 1901.
OTHER FACTORIES
Other factories of more recent date, and whose individual histories can so easily be learned, are the Piqua Handle Co., The Pioneer Pole and Shaft Co., Favorite Stove Works, Cincinnati Corrugating Co., Rolling Mill, The Wood Shovel and Tool Co., Piqua School Furniture Co., French Oil Mill Machine Co., The Fillebrown Shop, The H. Sternberger Mattress Factory, The Blackie Twine Factory, The King Manufacturing Co., and the numerous knitting and underwear factories which have made Piqua noted as a center for this class of manufacturing.
PATENTS
Many citizens of Piqua have their full measure of mechanical genius. Many patents have been granted to our inventors, and many inventions have been made that were not patented. Among those who have been prominent in this line of study are Wm. VanHorne, E. B. Rayner, W. O. Cofield, Jacob King, John Fritsch, and others.
The greatest invention ever worked out in Piqua was the Lorimer Automatic Telephone System, which has now been installed in the prin- cipal cities of Europe and Canada. This was the invention of J. Hoyt and G. W. Lorimer.
Hoyt died Nov. 6, 1901, but his brother, G. W., completed the inven- tion. They occupied the third floor of the large building opposite the union station, where a complete system was in operation for several years.
The U. S. patent has lately been sold to the Western Electric Co., of New York, and is now controlled by the Bell Telephone Co.
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METEROLOGICAL
METEROLOGICAL
A complete record of the storms, earthquakes, floods, and weather conditions of the first half of the past century would be impossible, but we do know that the first flood of any proportions in the Miami river since the settlement of the valley was in April, 1805. The volume of water passing through Piqua at that time was not as great as many later freshets, but has been exaggerated by the many tellings of the story.
On Dec. 16, 1811, a very severe earthquake was felt in Piqua which lasted for several minutes, and occasional lighter ones were felt up till Feb. 1, 1812. Then in 1816 came the cold summer, when vegetation was cut so short that during the next winter our pioneers had to subsist mostly on wild game.
In June, 1835, there was another flood in the river, and the next year came another cold summer in which there was frost every month, and snow in August.
In 1847 was the highest water ever before recorded, which swept away most of the light wooden bridges of that date. From this time up to 1900, we will copy in full the report of D. C. Branson, which we believe is good authority :
Covington, O., June 12, 1901.
MR. EDITOR :-
Being interested in the meterological notes occasionally given in your paper, I feel moved to give a chronological list of frosts, floods, storms, etc., for the past fifty years.
I will first give an extract from the "Ohio Farmer" of Feb. 1st, 1852, which says : "The 19th and 20th of January, just past, were the coldest days ever known in Ohio. The mercury at Cin- cinnati was from 12 to 15 degrees below zero; at Columbus 20 below, and at some points in the north of the state even down to 25 degrees below." I give this extract to show that extreme cold, such as is quite common now, was unknown in Ohio fifty years ago. This extremely cold weather killed many fruit trees.
1853-July 3, three o'clock p. m. the most violent wind and rain storm of the half century. Wheat shocks and fences were torn to pieces and scattered everywhere, much timber was de- stroyed, the Miami County Infirmary building, that was then being built, had part of its brick walls blown down. Near the middle of Sept. (I have lost exact date,) between two and three o'clock p. m. a clear, warm day, a detonating meteor was heard in the south, south-west, at an elevation of about forty-five de-
en the
el
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
grees. Its course was from east to west, was heard for ten or twelve seconds while passing through a space of about ten de- grees. This was not visible, as is usually the case, which I think may be accounted for by its being located from our point of view, in almost exast line with the sun. The report resembled that of continued musketry firing, the detonating reports following each other at the rate of about three per second. This was heard all over Miami county and doubtless in the adjoining counties.
From my knowledge of detonating meteors I believe this one to have been, when heard, near 70 miles above the earth. I am not aware that any account of this was made by scientific men.
1854-Wheat crop almost totally destroyed by the weevil. Numerous flies deposited their eggs in the wheat heads; these eggs developed into red midge, or weevil, that lived and grew by drawing the sap from the new and milky wheat grains.
1857-May 12, six degrees below freezing, very late season, apple trees did not bloom until May 20.
1858-Oat crop killed by rust, an unusually wet season, no apples or other fruits; light grain crops.
1859-June 5, severe frost killing wheat, corn, fruit and all tender vegetables; light frost on July 3rd and 4th and Aug. 29th; frost every month of the year.
1862-Oats killed by rust.
1863-Aug. 30 and 31 killing frost. Dec. 31, warm rain con- tinues until late in the night; next morning Jan. 1, 1864, heavy snow on ground, wind blowing a perfect hurricane, mercury 17º below zero; a change of 75° in ten hours. Much damage was done to fruit trees and plants.
1865-May 8, killing frost, fruit crop almost a failure; wheat injured by fly, rust and weevil. The potato crop promised well until September when, by reason of much rainy weather alter- nating with hot sunshine, the crop was nearly a total failure from rotting in the ground.
1866-September 18, 19 and 25, great floods in Ohio streams, the railroad bridge at Piqua was carried away by the flood, Sept. 19. On account of continuous rains little or no wheat seeded until October; from the same cause the larger part of the potato crop was lost from rotting in the ground.
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METEROLOGICAL
1870-May, the Colorado potato bugs made their first ap- pearance in Ohio.
1871-72-73-74-The canker worm such as is now denuding some of our old apple orchards of foliage, were so numerous and persistent in keeping the foliage stripped from the trees that in many places the young timber was killed.
1872-November witnessed the advent of the epizotic among our horses, almost every horse in the U. S. was more or less affected and disabled. This being before the universal use of the electric motor, many city street car lines and omnibus lines were on a forced strike. The winter of '72 and '73 was very cold with sixteen days with mercury below zero.
1874-Great desolation was wrought in some parts of the west by grasshoppers which left no green thing for man or beast to live on.
The winter of '74 and '75 was very cold with mercury eigh- teen degrees below zero, and the ground frozen four months with- out a general thawout.
1875-Was an unusually wet season. In July it rained al- most continuously so that teams and reapers swamped in the harvest field and wheat and oats rotted badly in the shock. The army worm did much damage to oats and timothy meadow. The winter of '75 and '76 continual rain and mud with mercury at no time down to zero.
1877-May 13, severe frost killing all tender vegetables, vel- low fever very prevalent and fatal at several points in the south, notably at New Orleans.
At no time during the winter of '79 and '80 was the mer- cury down to zero.
1880-The coldest November on record; for five days mer- cury ranged from 1 to 20 degrees below zero, followed up by the hard winter of '81 killing more than half the fruit trees in West- ern Ohio. The mercury was below zero eighteen days and we had seventy-eight days good sleighing; many voters went to the April election in their sleighs.
I here quote from my dairy :
1883-Saturday, May 19, cloudy, threatening storm, seven o'clock, p. m., thunder storm. Our neighbor, Noah Rhoades and
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the horse he was riding were both killed by lightning just as he was arriving at home in great haste to escape the storm.
Sunday, May 20, cloudy, cool rain p. m.
Monday, May 21, rain from north all of last night at 8 o'clock a. m., commences snowing and snowed all day. Temper- ature 34°.
Tuesday, May 22, temperature 35°, snows lightly all day from north although much now had melted, there is four inches remaining; the total snowfall was near twelve inches.
Wednesday, May 23, clear warm day, snow all disappears.
The corn crop of '83 was almost a total failure; it was late
SHAWNEE BRIDGE BEFORE WEST SPAN WAS WASHED AWAY-FLOOD OF 1898
planted, kept back by snow, wet and cold and was entirely killed by frost on Sept. 9.
1884-May 29, frost kills grapes, fruits and vegetables ; grasshoppers seriously injured the hay and oats crop and nearly destroyed the clover seed crop.
The winter of '84 and '85 had twenty-two days below zero and forty-six days sleighing.
1887-Severe earthquake on Aug. 30 in South Carolina; many lives lost and much damage done; the shock was percepti- ble in Ohio.
1888-Sept. 14, first killing frost.
Det
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METEROLOGICAL
1889-May 23, frost, killing all tender vegetation.
During May of this year occurred the great Johnstown flood, in which many lives and much property were destroyed.
Winter of '90 and '91 at no time down to zero.
1892-Grasshoppers entirely destroyed clover seed crop.
1895-May 12 and 13, frost killing fruits and vegetables.
1896-Wheat and oats greatly damaged in shock by con- tinued rains of July and August.
1898-Clover seed crop cut short by clover midge or weevil working in the heads.
1900-It is fresh in the minds of our farmers that the wheat
SHAWNEE BRIDGE SHOWING WEST SPAN WASHED AWAY -FLOOD OF 1898
crop was a total failure caused by Hessian fly and open winter with no snow protection. At the same time the red clover and strawberry erops were nearly a total failure, having to all ap- pearance suffered from the same cause that destroyed the wheat.
On Sept. S occurred the great flood and storm at Galveston, Texas, the most disastrous storm ever known on the continent, yet we know that the disaster was greatly magnified by the pe- culiar conditions of the place.
In conclusion I make this note, that every extremely cold
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FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
spell in the last fifty years was immediately preceded by a fresh fall of snow, and at the time the ground was not frozen.
Respectfully submitted,
D. C. BRANSON.
Mr. Branson left out the freshets of 1883-93-97 and 1898, the latter date being the last really high water until the unprecedented flood of 1913.
The following is a record of all the high waters in Piqua since 1847, and were marked on a cupboard door on the first floor of the old Bowman homestead at 368 East Water street, the marks showing the height the water rose above the lower floor.
EAST ASH STREET-FLOOD OF 1898
1847
25
inches
1865.
17
1866
211%
1883.
39
66
1893.
2134
1897
291%
1898
411% 66
1913
1801% 66
This latter flood was not marked with the others, for it reached the middle of the upstairs windows. We will not include a description of this terrible calamity, for it is of so recent date that we could not do it justice historically, and will therefore leave it as a starting point for future observers.
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METEROLOGICAL
SCHLOSSER BuTHERa CARPILIEF ZA WAGON WORKS
EAST MAIN STREET, SHAWNEE-FLOOD OF 1898
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FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
CHAPTER XIV BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
W HILE we believe that the usual biographical sketches which mak at up the larger part of most local histories are not necessary toe the interest of the work, we feel that a few exceptions will noort depreciate its value, and as these few will treat only of the lives of thos who have been directly concerned in the history of our first century cad growth, we make this brief departure from our original determination rera
Of the reminiscences in this chapter we decline responsibility as 1 se dates and incidents, but we think they will prove exceedingly interes ing.
COLONEL JOHN JOHNSTON
In compiling this sketch of the life of one of Piqua's most prominer pioneers, we have had access to many sources of information.
And while minute details of his life must necessarily be omitted, w will try to weave the broken threads of his patriotic history into su( form as will give the most casual reader an insight into the importai tasks that fell to his lot at the most critical period of Ohio's history.
Col. John Johnston states in his reminiscences that his fathe Stephen Johnston, with his brothers John and Francis, each havil large families, emigrated from the north of Ireland at the close of tl Revolution and settled in Shearman's valley, in the county of Cumbe land (now Perry county ), Pennsylvania. His paternal ancestors we from Scotland, and his maternal ancestors were French Huguenots, wl fled from France and took refuge in Ireland.
John, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ballyshannon, Coun Donegal, Ireland, on March 25, 1775, leaving that place at the age eleven years to come to America. Soon after his arrival at Philadelph he obtained a clerkship in the war department, and later went into tl mercantile establishment of Judge John Creigh at Carlisle, Penn.
This place was the rendezvous of the army which, under Wayr was forming for the famous expedition against the Indians of the nort west, just after the defeat of St. Clair. These troops were moved we as soon as they became proficient in military tactics, and Samuel Crei fitted up a number of wagons with army supplies and trading stock, i tending to accompany them to their destination. Although less tha seventeen years old, young Johnston drove one of these wagons over tl
pen
Hel
d
m
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
fountains, through the snow in the dead of winter, to Pittsburg, walk- ig beside his team nearly the whole distance.
Here they stayed until the spring of 1793, when the army went into imp at Legionville, about 20 miles down the river. In September of tat year they had gone down the Ohio to "Hobson's Choice," and late October, with Gen. Wayne in command, went into winter quarters at ort Greenville.
Creigh and Johnston had continued with the army on this long trip, id during the winter and the ensuing summer of 1794, Johnston made veral trips between Ft. Greenville and Cincinnati, likely for the pur- se of overseeing the transportation of his employer's goods, and thus
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JOHN JOHNSTON
1. » ame acquainted with many pioneers on the route and in Cincinnati. He seems to have left the employ of Creigh in the fall of 1794, for h spent the following winter with an uncle at Bourbon court house, Kıtucky.
Here he met Daniel Boone of whom he speaks with much admira- ock i, and he many years afterward acted as pall-bearer at the reinterment « the remains of Boone and his wife, at Frankfort, Ky., when they were orer l'e oved to that point from Missouri.
ed
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FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
While the following paragraph does not coroborate Johnston's remi- niscences, we are not in a position to judge authoritatively, but rather believe it is a true version : "Johnston's father and family had followed him to this country in 1791, and had settled in Tuscarora county, Penn."
The father dying in 1795, young Johnston returned home, and from this date to 1802, we have no authentic record of his doings. We do know, however, that during this period he had often met President Wash- ington; had heard him read his last message to congress, and after his death in 1799, was delegated to take part in the Masonic ceremonies inci- dent to the funeral, Johnston being at that time secretary of Washing- ton Lodge No. 59.
He was most likely in some way connected with the government officials, for in the spring of 1802 he was appointed Indian Agent, or Factor, for the territory adjacent to Fort Wayne.
Having fallen in love with a young Quakeress, (Miss Rachel Rob- inson), and her parents objecting to the marriage on account of the daughter's youth, (16 years), they eloped to Lancaster, where they were married July 15, 1802.
Their wedding journey was the horse-back ride over the mountains and on through the wilderness of the north-west territory to his station at Fort Wayne. This young pioneer bride continued to be a genuine helpmate in the trying duties of Col. Johnston's position for 38 years, and during the time of their residence at Upper Piqua, while busy with the duties of her home and family, she was also identified with much of the religious work of this vicinity. She was the mother of 15 children, and of the fourteen living at the time of her death, "there was not one but would rise and called her blessed."
It was during their first few years at Ft. Wayne that Col. Johnston formulated a policy in his fair dealing with the tribes of this section which made his presence so necessary to the government in our second war with England.
On June 1, 1810, a patent was granted John Johnston for the north east quarter of Section 1; Township 8; Range 5, in Miami county, Ohio and in the spring of 1811 he bought the quarter section directly east o this.
This latter tract had been entered by Shadrich Hudson, who had erected a commodious two-story log cabin and also the present log barn
Previous to this date, however, Johnston's brother Stephen had moved to Ft. Wayne, and was employed as assistant at the agency.
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
While still retaining control of this post, Col. Johnston removed to Upper Piqua with his family in 1811, which place, early in 1812, was made a government agency, and at the breaking out of the war, all the neutral tribes of this vicinty were removed to this point and placed under his supervision.
How well his influence with these many thousands of restless Indians in his charge was received is told in countless histories of that war.
He was in attendance at all the councils held at Piqua between the tribes and the government commissioners, and was listened to by his "Red Children" with more reverence and interest than were the commis- sioners.
After Hull's surrender of Detroit on Aug. 16, 1812, the northern Indians under the influence of Tecumseh laid siege to Fort Wayne.
Col. Johnston, knowing the dangers to which this post was exposed, asked for volunteers to bring the women and children to Piqua. The Shawanoe chief, Logan, who at this time was living at Upper Piqua, responded, and with a small band of selected Indians accomplished his mission in safety.
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