USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 20
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A short time after this Abner Riddle. William Rutan and John Pollock began a private banking business in a room in the rear of the present People's Bank on Colum- bus street.
Soon afterwards Mr. Pollock withdrew from this bank and started a bank of his own. Messrs. Riddle and Rutan continued the business and Robert Lamb became the cashier.
Some time about 1859. William G. Ken- nedy became a partner, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Riddle, Rutan & Kennedy, but Mr. Kennedy with- drew from the bank in 1861, and Robert Lamb became a partner and the business was conducted under the firm name of Ru- tan. Riddle and Company, and took the name of the People's Bank.
In 1880 this bank was changed to a National Bank and has continued so until
In 1856 General Isaae S. Gardner, Doc- tor William Thomas and Samuel Miller, who had but recently returned from Mex- ico, started a bank with a paid-up capital of twenty thousand dollars, under the name and style of the Merchant's Bank, with Wil- liam Thomas President and Silas Baldwin as cashier, and continued banking until 1862 when Mr Baldwin went into the army, and the bank went into liquidation.
Mr. J. N. Allen also began a banking business with Milton Steen as cashier, but
Mr. Ralph E. Runkle began a banking business in West Liberty about 1857. and continued it until his death, when the bank was disposed of to Messrs. Taylor, Fisher and Company, who continued the bank until their failure in 1884.
Messrs. O. R. Pegg and Wilson Me- Adams opened a bank in Rushsylvania in June. 1872, and continued it until Septem- ber. 1892. a period of twenty years and more.
The Bellefontaine National Bank was organized under the laws of the United States as a National Bank duly chartered and opened its doors for business April 1, 1871. William Lawrence became its pres- ident and remained such until shortly be- fore his death.
The early banking in Logan county was beset with many disadvantages and incon- veniences. The currency of the country was upon a very unstable and unsatisfactory ba- sis, and exchange with the east was expen- sive and difficult to get. while the eastern banks were not so safe and reliable as at the present time, and local banks ran great
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
risks in keeping large balances in the east The Bellefontaine National Bank --- upon which to draw for exchange.
Considerable exchange was arranged for by shippers who took certificates of deposits for their sales of stocks in the eastern market, and brought them back to exchange with the local banks for currency. the local banks using the deposits thus made in the east for exchange.
The present system of banking and cur- rency is upon a safe, economical and stable basis, and our banks in Logan county are regarded as being among the best in the country. We give a list of the banks in Logan county with their capital and depos- its as returned by them, showing what a vast system has grown up within the half century of their existence.
These statements can give but a faint idea of the volume of business done during the year by these banking institutions, the aggregate amount of which counts up to many millions of dollars.
BANK STATEMENTS.
There are ten banks and banking in- stitutions in Logan county, whose combined capital amounts to three hundred and eighty- seven thousand, five hundred and sixty sev- en dollars ($387.567.00), and whose de- posits amount to one million two hundred and thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-six dollars and fifty-seven cents. ($1.337.836.57) .
The People's National Bank of Bellefon- taine-
Capital $100,000 00
Surplus 25.000 00.
Undivided profits 17.110 00
Total
$142,110 00
With deposits of $373.285.03.
Capital $100.000 00
Surplus 20,000 00
Undivided profits 6.951 00
Total $126.951 00 With deposits of $169. 176.53.
The Commercial & Savings Bank, Belle- fontaine-
Capital $50,000 00 Deposits, $221.799.79.
The Farmers' Bank of West Liberty- Capital $15.000 00
Deposits, $101.273.70.
The Citizens' Bank of DeGraff- Capital $20,000 00
Deposits, $186.433.59.
The Bellecenter Bank-
Capital $20,000 00
Deposits, $1 32.593.83.
The Union Banking Company. West Mansfield-
Capital $8.500 00
Deposits. $109.695.00.
The Rushsylvania Bank, Rushsylvania -- Capital $5,000 00
Deposits. $37.500.00.
Hamilton's Bank. East Liberty- Deposits, $45.079.05.
The Liberty Bank- Deposits, $20,000.00.
CEMENT FACTORIES.
Among the most important industries within the county, and one which is des- tined to assume large proportions, is the manufacture of Portland cement.
This material is but coming into gen-
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY
eral use. For years it has been used in the making of walks, foundations and con- crete work of all kinds.
The United States government has long required that all government build- ings should be laid upon sub-foundations of broken stone and cement, and upon this concrete base the huge structures of government work have been placed.
The Public Library and the Govern- ment Printing Office at Washington. to- gether with the Washington Postoffice and government buildings in all parts of the country, are so constructed.
It is, however. but lately that the greater uses of cement have been deter- mined upon. It is now used for the com- plete foundations of public buildings, and finally for the entire building, including all the walls and masonry.
For centuries this method of construc- tion has prevailed in the Spanish countries of North and South America, and their buildings, sometimes called adobe. are, most of them. in fact constructed of broken stone and cement and form walls . as lasting as time.
.
The great forts about San Juan. Porto Rico, with four centuries of time covering their walls with age and tradition, are standing to-day as firm and untouched as they were when the last plastic shoveliul of concrete was put into place. and they were declared to be complete. At the great Columbian Exposition at Chicago France. Austria and Germany gave us ex- amples of concrete construction which were marvels of excellence and beauty.
cheapness, and next. because of its chairs bility.
It is, however, of late years there marked advance has been made in it- w-7. for the construction of large ball biga complete from foundation to turret ont ni cement concrete, and it has prost a great success. not only on account of its great strength. but on account of its cheapness and its fireproof qualities.
It has been determined by competent and experienced engineers that it has more than four times the strength of steel structures, while it is not subject to the objection of destruction by fire and heet. which so quickly and so completely de stroys these massive steel frame building -.
\ building has lately been comple .! in Parkersburg. W. Va., of sixteen - mi: in height, which is constructed entirely of concrete and is regarded as one of the most complete structures in the country.
In Cincinnati Mr. M. E. Ingalls. pri- dent of the C., C., C. & I. Railway, ABer thorough investigation. is constructip : 3 building entirely of concrete sixteen .for ies in height.
The concrete has come to sint. am! the little stone which was originally on's under the foundation of the building, is to become the head of the corner.
Logan county has a great and last 5 supply of material ready for use in the manufacture, and has two large factories now running night and day.
BUCKEYE PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY.
In the year 1886 George H. Katser. a chemist of great ability and reputatie .. and a manufacturer of cement in Texas. and Mr. George W. Bartholomew come
For walks. bridges, culverts. founda- tions, streets, roads and highways there is no better material. first. because of its to Logan county and began an inquiry
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGHIN COUNTY.
into the marl beds in the northern part of pany is organized and incorporated with the county with a view to making cement of this deposit.
Experiments were made, the material taken to Germany by Mr. Kaltyer. and it was found to be a perfect material for the manufacture of the highest grade of Port- land cement.
They purchased cement machinery in Germany, bought a large number of acres of land and erected a factory which hegan operations in 1887. Since that time they have been turning ont cement which for strength and tensile qualities, not only equaled, but excelled any cement mannfac- tured in the world.
The usual tensile test of Portland cement. which is regarded as the German high stan- ' dard. is less than seven hundred parids. The Portland cement manufactured at this factory has been tested to a standard of more than fifteen hundred jw unds tensile strength and it is now admitted that in quality it is not excelled anywhere.
The original factory of the Buckeye Portland Cement Company has but recently been greatly enlarged and improved and is now turning out nearly five thousand bar- rels weekly, and is running continuously, summer and winter, night and day.
They have two hundred acres of land, all underlaid with marl and clay, with an investment of two hundred and fifty thous- and dollars and employing fifty workmen.
.
THE ALTA CEMENT COMPANY.
Within the last three years the Alta Portland Cement Company has also con- structed a factory near and is drawing up- on these apparently inexhaustable beds for marl and is turning it into a cement of the highest standard of excellence. This com-
a capital of one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars, and has lately enlarged its plant and has a capacity of five hundred barrels daily.
The cement industry is but in the begin- ning of its developments, and the buildings of the future in the great cities. with their towering structures reaching into the skies, are destined to be built of this indestructable material which neither fire nor water can destroy.
Logan county has become one of the greit centers of its nrianfacture and thous- ands upon thousands of barrels will be re- quired to supply the demand for this new material which is as old as the centuries.
CHAPTER AV.
BELLEFONTAINE INDUSTRIES - BIG FOUR RAILROAD SHOPS-FLOURING MILIS-WARE HOUSES-BELLE- FONTAINE. BRIDGE AND IRON WORKS-B .DY FAC-
THISE NOVELTY WOPRS-THE BALL NOVELTY COM- PANY-THE HAML AND TODL WORKS-MATTRESS
FACTORY-LIME AND STONE WOIKS-PUPLIC WORKS-THE GAS WORKS-FILETER HIGHLE PLANT -WATER WORKS -STREET PAVING-OPERA HOUSE -- PLEASURE RESORTS-SILVER LAKE-INDIAN LAFL-REAM'S CAN !-- TIVERSIDE PARK.
About 1800 the Big Four Railway com- pany proposed for a consideration to locate their shops at Bellefontaine.
This being the middle point between Cleveland and Indianapolis, it was a most convenient location for the work to be done in the repair and improvement of their en- gines and cars, and such other work as is necessary in the running of a great railway
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
system. The citizens of Bellefontaine voted an assistance of $100.000.00 and the shops were constructed upon an extensive scale, and are now employing something near four hundred hands, all of whom are expert mechanics and demand good wages.
In addition to those employed in the shops, quite a number of engineers, brake- men, conductors and other employes are residents of this city, brought by reason of the change of division to this point, and have added largely to the population and to the business of the city.
It may with all fairness be said of the railway men who are employed in the shops and upon the road, that they are a steady, industrious and most excellent body of men. and are a most desirable addition to Belle- fontaine's population. They are useful and good citizens, and have greatly assisted in enlarging.and extending the business of the city.
FLOURING MILLS.
The flouring mills of Messrs. Colton Brothers is a large and completely equipped institution with all the latest modern machin- ery and a capacity of five hundred barrels daily.
It makes a home market for the wheat of the county, and pays the highest price for that production.
The flour manufactured at this mill is ยท not only in demand at home, but it also com- mands a large foreign trade, and large ship- ments of its products go to England and Scotland.
It has greatly added to the business of the community and the growth of the city.
WAREHOUSES.
There are two large warehouses in this city, Kerr Brothers, and Kellar and Dowell,
and these furnish the best home markets for all kinds of grain. The increase of pro- duction in the county has been continuous. and there is no county in the state that pro- dluces better quality of all kinds of grain.
TIJE BELLEFONTAINE BRIDGE AND IRON WORKS.
Logan county for a number of years was not noted for its manufacturing indus- tries, and was somewhat behind her neighi- bors in this direction. Within the last few years, however, there has been a change in these matters and quite a number of most prosperous manufactures have added to her material development.
Among these may be mentioned the Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Works, where nearly a hundred men are employed night and day in manufacturing bridges and all kinds of structural iron work.
This institution has been very success- ful and is in a most prosperous and healthy condition.
Its employes are all skilled mechanics and command good wages, and are rapidly building homes, and reflecting in every pos- sible manner the prosperity of the insti- tution by which they are employed. Bridges manufactured by this company are ship- ped as far westward as Oklahoma and Nevada and to all parts of the country, and its structural iron work has gone to far dis- tant points. It is a growing and most pros- perous institution and brings a great deal of money into the county.
BODY FACTORIES.
Bellefontaine has long been noted as being the central point for the manufactur- ing of buggy and carriage bodies.
This industry had its beginning in this
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOG.IN COUNTY.
city, and for nearly thirty years it has con- tinned to send out hundreds and thousands of bodies to all sections of the country and to foreign parts. There are now two fac- tories in operation, the Buckeye Body Com- pany and .A. J. Miller and Company.
The Buckeye Company, employes one hundred men and buikls and ships all kinds of bodies, from herirses to pony carts. It makes a specialty of the construction of automobile bodies, large numbers of which are being manufactured in all seasons of the year in this institution.
Its employes are skilled workmen, and are mostly paid by the piece. The institu- tion is on a good and substantial basis.
A. J. MILLER & COMPANY.
Messrs. A. J. Miller and Company have been brought up in the business and are most expert and skillful manufacturers of fine work. They are mostly engaged in only the finer and better work and have made a reputation in this direction second to none.
Of this institution it can be said that through good times and hard times it has kept its men employed and paid regu- lar wages to a file body of workmen.
Its manufacturing establishment is a model of neatness and cleanliness, thor- oughly organized, and is one of the most complete in the country.
It employs something like seventy men, all of whom are expert workmen. and many of whom have been employed in this factory for many years. It brings a good deal of money from abroad to add to the wealth of the country.
CARRIAGE FACTORIES.
The first carriage factory was started in 1852 by Amos, David, Samuel and Ja-
cob Miller, who came from Wayne county. Ohio, and opened a factory in the shops formerly occupied by Matthew W. Pol- lock as a blacksmith.
Here for many years they continued to do a thriving and prosperous business and turned out great numbers of buggies and carriages for the home and foreign trade. They finally turned their factory into a body factory, and were the pioneers in this industry in Logan county.
Messrs. John. Peter and George Em- ery all came from Pennsylvania and began the manufacture of carriages and buggies as Emery Brothers, and for many years successfully carried on this business, but finally went into other branches of trade. Of those now engaged in the business are Mr. Joseph Je hantgen. Kingsbury and Croskett, of Bellefontaine. These fac- tories are extensively engaged in the man- ufacture and sale of carriages and buggies and have the reputation of turning out the finest of work.
THIE BELLEFONTAINE NOVELTY WORKS.
The Bellefontaine Novelty Works, an institution which manufactures specialties. has a prosperous business, and commands a large trade. It manufactures only for the wholesale trade, and its goods go into all the markets of the country. It em- ploys a number of hands, and is continu- ally growing in importance and volume of business.
THIE BELL NOVELTY COMPANY.
The Bell Novelty Company deals en- tirely in advertising goods, and manufac- tures and sells to the general trade and business concerns throughout the country all kinds of advertising novelties.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
It is a thriving and promising institu- tion, employs only skilled workmen and does an extensive business.
THE HAME AND TOOL WORKS.
An institution which has grown from a small beginning to one of magnitude and importance is the Hame and Tool Works. This factory makes hames for harness and all kinds of tools necessarily used in the manufacture of harness.
It began, like the mustard seed, in very humble quarters, but it has become a vigorous and thrifty tree in its growth and development. It now employs something like seventy-five hands, and ships hames and harness tools to every part of the world. Its employes are paid good wages and are mostly paid by the piece. Its pro- prietors are vigorous and pushing business men, who have made a success in this de- partment.
MATTRESS FACTORY.
An institution which has grown up in our midst is the mattress factory. It is doing a thriving business, and is pushing its manufactured goods into the market in all directions. Its manager. Mr. Bradfute. is a man of experience, and has put vim and vigor into the institution.
LIME AND STONE WORKS.
A thriving and successful business is carried on by the Bellefontaine Stone and Lime Company. This company has sev- eral acres of quarry and is largely engaged in furnishing building stone and also in crushing stone for all kinds of streets. road and concrete work.
It employs seventy-five or eighty hands and has been shipping stone in large
quantities by rail to distant points. It has two plants, one at Bellefontaine and one near East Liberty.
The macadam streets made of the crushed stone from these quarries are as fine as can be found anywhere; several streets in Bellefontaine have been con- structed of this material. and they are as beautiful as asphalt and far more desir- able as driveways.
PUBLIC WORKS.
.. Bellefontaine is most fortunate in being the owner of its own public works, includ- ing the gas works, water works and electric light plant. Perhaps no city in the state is better supplied with all the things neces- sary for the comfort and convenience of its citizens than Bellefontaine, and no city en- joys the use and benefit of these for so small an expenditure of public funds.
THE GAS WORKS.
Were constructed in 1872, and have been in operation for thirty years. They are self-sustaining, and have assisted greatly in adding to the comfort and good of the city.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The electric light plant was built in 1894 and is owned by the city and is run in con- nection with the gas works.
The system is a most complete one and no city in Ohio is letter lighted and at comparatively so small an expense.
The two plants run in connection are entirely self-sustaining so that Bellefontaine is obtaining her heat. light and fuel with- out any annual expenditure, and these pub- lic works are gradually becoming sources of income for the city treasury.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
WATER WORKS.
The Bellefontaine water works are noted far and wide. The water supply which comes through the rock some one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet below the sur- face is a pure white sulphur and has many medicinal qualities.
It is a most wholesome and desirable water and is supplied in greatest abundance through a series of pipes which reach far- thest limits of the city in all directions.
Above the city, and upon an elevation some two hundred feet higher than the streets, there is a reservoir, which is con- stantly filled with pure white sulphur water pumped from the works.
Bellefontaine's fire protection is second to none in the west. With about seventy pounds pressure standing continually on the pipes, and an abundance of water for all possible emergencies, it is doubtful if in the whole country there is a better system of fire protection than in this city. It would be possible to attach fifty lines of here to the plugs and fun them continually for a month without diminishing the pressure.
There are seven wells at the works, and the water is forced from these wells by an air lift, which is a complete and continuous method of lifting the water from the deep well system and delivering it into a basin especially built to receive it, and from which it is delivered to the pump. The pumps are thus relieved of the additional duty of lift- ing the water from the wells, and are only required to force it into the pipes. The pumping system is a most complete and sat- isfactory one; there is one magnificent piece of machinery capable of lifting and forcing into the ppes two million gallans of water daily, and two other pumps, with a capacity
of one million two hundred thousand more. The entire system is without question one of the most complete and perfect in the whole country, and has added much to the health and comfort of the city.
STREET PAVING.
In the old days the streets of Bellefon- taine. the county seat. in fall and spring time were simply oceans of mud and water. and it was almost impossible to get about from place to plice without wading through and braving all possible conditions, and sub- mitting to the inevitable. The improved condition of affairs is in strikng contrast with the olden times. Today Bellefontaine's streets are is presentalle as any in the state. Main, Columbus, Opera and Court streets. alout the court house, are all pived with cement from the Buckeye factory in our county, and after nearly ten years' wear are sul-stantially as good as when put down. This is another evidence of the quality of the cement manufactured in Logan county.
Main street from Court to Chillicothe. and frem Columbus to Sandusky, and Co- lumlus street from Mad River to Opera. and from Main to the railroad. are all paved with brick. Detroit street, from Sandusky to Powell, and Chillicothe street from Stan- ley to the railroad, and Mad River street from Auburn to Rush street, and Main from Sandusky to Rush, are all paved with bro- ken and crushed macadam. These streets are all finished with concrete gutters and stone or concrete curbing. With the ex- ception of one or two streets the whole city is complete in its street improvements, and makes a most presentable appearance.
There are few cities of its size in Ohio that can boast of better public improvements
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HISTORICAL. REVIEWS OF LOGAN COUNTY.
of all kinds than Bellefontaine, noted as it is for public spirit. .
The other towns in the county have exhibited a most commendable spirit of en- terprise, and the growth and improvement has been marked and continued. Quincy. West Liberty, DeGraff. Bellecenter, West Mansfield. Rushsylvania, and Lakeview. all have either natural gas or electricity, and the continued increase and betterments of all characters have kept pace with the gen- eral increase and improvement of the county.
OPERA HOUSE.
Bellefontaine has one of the most com. plete and beautiful opera houses in the state. Its seating capacity is about twelve hun- dred. It is lighted by electricity, heated by hot air, and throughout is a model of its kind. Its entertainments are of the highest order, and its management in good hands. It was built in 1882, and is as fresh and clean as if only finished yesterday. It is a part of the Opera House Block. on the trance being on Court street.
ground floor, and is easy of access. its en- and was for a time known as Ballard's lake.
PLEASURE RESORTS,
There are several pleasure resorts in the county, which are justly noted for the beat- ty and character of their surroundings. Every year these places are visited by hun- dreds and thousands of people, who come to enjoy an outing and to find temporary relief from the cares of daily business.
wild fowl. which came to feed upon the lakes and rivers of the country. -
SILVER LAKE.
Just west of Bellefontaine there is a beautiful lake, upon the banks of which in the early days of the country there lived a curious character named George Blaylock. He was a blacksmith by trade, and settled upon or near Hull's Trace, so that he might be close to the passing and re-passing of the travel which went back and forth from Lake Erie to the Ohio, and the lake was called after him. Blaylock's lake.
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