The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 6

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2 > Part 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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$331,854.60. There were several consecutivo seasons that the business was as extensive as that of 1874-75. Mon engaged in the business were S. M. Thorne, Isaac and J. McMillan, G. E. Stingly, J. N. Linkhart and C. M. Walker, of the firm of Thorne, McMillan & Co., and Thorne, Stingly & Co. and M. H. Brackney, J. M. Haynes, Israel Terrell, R. M. Haworth and T. B. Glass, of Brackney, Haynes & Co.

PRESENT MANUFACTURES.

The Champion Bridge Company .- This extensive enterprise began opera. tions in Wilmington in the year 1876. The business was inaugurated one year prior to this in the city of Hamilton, Ohio, by Messrs. Jonathan and Zimri Wall and L Bailey. These gentlemen came to the village, and, in con- sideration of the assistance they received, at the hands of some of the public- spirited and enterprising citizens, erected their shops on the corner of Main and Wall streets, near the C. & M. V. R. R. track, and commenced business in the line of repairing all kinds of farm implements and machinery generally, besides constructing the Champion iron bridge, of which the firm owned the patent. In August, 1878, the concern became a stock company, with a capital of $50,000, under the following officers: President, Peter Clevenger; Secretary and Treasurer, S. I. Bailey; Directors, Elisha Wall, A. I. Bailey, W. R. Bow- man, L. J. Walker and Peter Clevenger. In the construction of bridges the company has done a large and successful business, extending throughout the States of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The amount of their present business is about $25,000 a year. The main building of the works is two stories high, and has a basement; in size, it is 40x125 feet, and is constructed of brick. The foundry is a frame building, 58x35, and warehouse, 26x40 feet. In the beginning, the number of men employed was twenty-five. There are now thirty-five. The original name was the Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, which was changed in 1881. Present officers, Peter Clevenger, President; . A. I. Bailey, Treasurer and Superintendent, and W. J. Strublo, Secretary.

The Schofield Woolen Mill .- This mill is located on North South street, and was built about 1834-35, by Charles Russell (father of Hon. A. P. Russell), who had started in the business here about 1825 or 1826, having at first a small mill a short distance south of the present one. The old mill was oper- ated by borse and cattle power, and its proprietor had a large business. The son, A. P. Russell, was for some time a workman in his father's factory. Mr. Russell continued in business until 1842. The present business was estab- lished in 1862 by Messrs. Wickersham & King, and subsequently purchased by the present proprietor-William Schofield, who handles great quantities of wool and manufactures all kinds of woolen goods, yarns, blankets, etc. Mr. Schofield ships much wool to the Eastern cities. From ten to twenty men are employed at different periods in the year, and the sales aggregate about $25,- 000 a year. The building is about 40x60 feet, and is three stories high with a basement.

Gallup's Planing-Mill and Lumber Yard .- About the year 1854, Sampson & Babb erected the building now occupied and operated as a planing-mill and owned by Horace Gallup, for a flouring-mill, and as such it served until about the year 1865, when H. N. Fisher & Co. put into the building planing ma -. chinery. Two years later, it was purchased by Horace Gallup & Bros., who operated it' until the fall of 1881, since which period the business has been carried on by Horace Gallup. The mills are located on the corner of Sugar- tree and Mulberry streets. The main building, which is of frame, is 40x60 feet, and is three stories high, with a basement; on either side is a wing about half the site of the main house. It is used as a planing-mill, sash, door and

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blind factory. In busy times this establishment gives employment to eight men. The lumber yard was established in 1872 by George B. Talbert, who carried on that business until 1880, when it was purchased by A. Gallup, the present proprietor.

The Carriage Manufactory of Charles A. Taylor .- This establishment commenced business on Walnut, between Columbus and Locust streets, in the year 1854, under the firm name of J. & C. A. Taylor, and so continued for two years, when Justus Taylor assumed control and remained the proprietor for a number of years, when the business was purchased by E. C. Gregg and C. A. Taylor, who remained partners three years, when Gregg went out and Mr. Taylor carried on the business himself, from January, 1875. In May follow- ing, the shops were destroyed by fire, resulting in the total loss of everything. He again commenced work just in the rear of the Nordyke Livery Stable, and later, built a new shop opposite the site of the old Christian Church, where he carried on the same business until April, 1880, when he removed to his present place, on Locust street. These shops were erected in 1875; the main building is a two-story brick, 24x40 feet; the blacksmith shop in the rear is also a two- story building, 20x30 feet. Mr. Taylor has in the past done an extensive busi- ness, but of late years has manufactured but few vehicles. He sells mostly work manufactured elsewhere, and pays particular attention to carriage trim- ming, painting and general repairing.

Fisher & Hughes' Planing-Mill. - On East Main street is located the planing-mill and lumber yard of Fisher & Hughes, where is manufactured all kinds of sash, doors and blinds. The business was begun in 1871 by James. Guinn, Charles Hughes and J. A. Fisher, under the firm name of Guinn, Hughes & Fisher. They erected a one-story brick building, 36x85 feet, and have since increased their facilities for conducting the business. A year later, the firm became Lynn, Fisher & Hughes, which remained as such for three years, when Mr. Lynn retired, leaving the present proprietors in charge.

The Grist-Mill of Fulton, Crane & Peters .- On Sugartree street, east of the depot, and on the C. & M. V. R. R., will be found this mill, which was built by the firm in 1881. The mill proper is 40x70 feet, with a north wing 10x25 feet. It is a frame building, four stories high, including the base- ment. The mill is well equipped for rapid and thorough work, having five run of buhr stones, one roll, two purifiers, two smut-mills, five cloths, one packer, eleven strand of elevators, five conveyers and four sets of scales. The capacity of the mill is thirty barrels of flour per day. Capacity of elevator, 5,000 bushels of corn. In connection with the mill is a corn-sheller. The cost of the mill was $15,000. These gentlemen do an extensive business in the wheat and corn line, and ship large quantities of grain to Cincinnati, Baltimore and other cities, the average shipment amounting to about twelve car loads per week. They give employment to six men about the mill. They make three grades of flour, which is sold principally to local trade.

The Carroll Saw-Mill .- This mill was erected in the year 1872 by Web- ster Carroll, the present proprietor. It was framed for Uriah Carroll as early as 1854, and operated until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion. The building, 24x50 feet, and two stories in height, is located at the foot of North Mulberry street. The mill is operated by John K. Carroll, a son of the pro- prietor. In busy times four . men are employed. The amount of business done annually amounts to about $8,000.

The Brick-yards of McMillan Bros. and Thomas Darbyshire .- Over twenty years ago, William McMillan, the father of the present firm, began manufacturing brick in Wilmington, since which time the business has been continued in the McMillan name. The large yard of these gentlemen is situ-

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ated in what is known as Clarktown, in the southeastern part of the village. They employ a force of from ten to fifteen hands, and make on an average 500,000 brick a season. The Darbyshire yard, located in the same vicinity, was opened about the year 1871, by James and Thomas Darbyshire, but car- ried on since 1874.by the latter gentleman, who manufactures probably in the neighborhood of 300,000 brick annually.

THE ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL.

The St. Nicholas Hotel was built in the spring of 1882 by J. R. Hawley and opened for public entertainment on the evening of the 1st of July, with Messrs. Terrell & Johnson as proprietors. It is a large three-story brick building, located on South street, nearly opposite the county jail.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

There is nothing of record to show that any provision was made by the villago for protection from fire prior to the passage of the following ordinance, ontitlod

AN ORDINANCE TO PREVENT DAMAGE BY FIRE.

SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Wilmington. That James Fife and Warren Sabin be and they are hereby appointed to examine the ire-places attached to such tenements within the limits of the corporation as may be situated within such distance of each other as may render it possible in burning to communicate fire to each other (at least once a month, from the 1st of November to he 1st of April in each and every year). And the examiners, on discovering any fire- lace or chimney which may be in such a condition as, in their opinion, might com- nunicate fire to the building to which it is attached, or to any other building, shall Immediately report the same to the Marshal, whose duty it shall be forthwith to no- ify the owner or occupier of such building, in writing, to repair such fire-place or himney in such manner as he shall prescribe in his aforesaid notification.

SEC. 2. Be it further ordained, that if the person or persons so notified shall ail to repair his, her or their fire-place or fire-places, agreeably to the notice of the farshal, within ten days after he, she or they shall have received such notice, such erson or persons shall, for every such offense, on conviction before the Mayor, be ned in a sum not exceeding $20, nor less than $2.

SEC. 3. Be it further ordained, that it shall be deemed an offense against said . orporation for any person or persons to burn powder in balls, or otherwise burn or et on fire any tar barrel, or throw any fire-balls, sky-rockets, or any other combusti- le material on fire whatever, within the limits of the corporation; and every person r persons so offending shall, on conviction before the Mayor, be fined in any sum not xceeding $5, nor less than 25 cents.

SEc. 4. Be it further ordained, that the Marshal shall be hereby anthorized to rocure four fire-hooks and six ladders for the use of the corporation ; to erect a suit- ble shelter on the court house lot to preserve them; and to place them under such helter in good order, so as to be ready on any emergency, and present his account r settlement to the Town Council.

SEC. 5. Be it further ordained, that if any person or persons shall remove from heir place of deposit any of the aforementioned hooks or ladders, for any purpose ther than the prevention or extinction of fire within the corporation, such person ; persons shall, on conviction before the Mayor, for every such offense be fined in ly sum not exceeding $5 nor less than $1.

SEC. 6. Be it further ordained, that John B. Posey, Samuel McCune, George ruce, Edward Kelly and Warren Sabin be and they are hereby appointed to have the re and management of the aforesaid hooks and ladders, and to have the exclusive rection and management of the whole operation of extinguishing fire where it all break out within the corporation; and in case of the absence of John B. Posey, en Samuel McCune shall take the command; and in his absence, George Bruce, and on, agreeably to the order in which their names are set down in this ordinance.

This ordinance to take effect and be in force from the 15th day of January in- ant.

January 2, 1830.

ISAIAH MORRIS, Mayor.

C. B. WOODRUFF, Recorder.

March 14, 1840, provision was made by an ordinance of the Town Council

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for the oganization of all able-bodied white male inhabitants residing within the corporate limits of the village into two fire companies, one of which was to be known and designated as the Hook and Ladder Company, and the othor the Bucket Company, the former to consist of forty able-bodied young men, and the latter of all the other able-bodied white male inhabitants over the age of seventeen years.

The Town Council was to elect a Superintendent, who, with the assist- ance of that body, was to select the forty young men that were to compose the Hook and Ladder Company. The Superintendent thus elected to serve only until the regular spring olection, whon the Superintendent of the fire department should be oloctod in the same way and manner as other corpora- tion officers.

It was made the duty of every owner of a dwelling-house, storehouse, shop and office within the corporate limits of the village to procuro or causo to be procured a firo bucket for each and every such shop or dwelling to be made of loathor, to bo approved of by the Superintondont, to hold throo gallons of wator, and to cause his or her name to be legibly writton, printed or paintod on the samo, and to be kopt in a convenient place in each dwelling.house, storehouse or offico belonging to him or hor.

It was further mado the duty of the owner or occupier of the buildings to convey or cause to be convoyod such buckets in case of fire to the place of dangor.

Pursuant to cortain sections of the ordinance roforred to, John Bush Posoy was appointed Superintendent of the firo companies, and James Fife was appointed the keeper of the hooka and ladders.

The village was without a firo engino of any description until the pur- chase of the steamer now in uso by tho fire department. During the winter of 1874-75, and the spring of the latter year, Wilmington was the scene of a number of incondiary firos of an alarming nature, which led to the prompt ac- tion of the citizens in securing a moro officiont means for extinguishing fires than those thon in use. On the 12th of May, 1875, the citizens assembled at the court house and organized a volunteer fire company, known as the " Clin- ton Fire Engine, Hook and Laddor and Hose Company of Wilmington, Ohio." The original members were as follows:

Charles Hughos, J. L. Hackney, S. Q. Fulton, H. C. Taylor, Jr., J. J. Barlow, I. W. Quinby, S. S. Linton, B. J. Whinery, G. L. Barlow, H. E. G. Girard, Wesley Brindle, William Schofield, W. A. Bogan, Charles Mathews, Robert McMillan, Robert Hazard, Lou Fisher, Levi Pike, N. H. Sidwell, J. A. Schofield, Henry Miller, J. B. Allen, Samuel Richards, J. McDermott, George R. Achor, M. R. Gaskill, W. H. Rannells, J. M. Kirk, E. W. Shepherd, E. S. Hadley, M. W. Moon, C. B. Dwiggins, D. A. Lamb, G. W. Green, Eli Had- ley, E. K. Peters, David Babb, Charles Curl, P. S. Brindle, Charles Welch, Josiah Sparks, Charles McMillan, Frank Vantress, Jacob Burst, H. H. Barlow, George W. Brown, William M. Babb, Alf Clark, C. W. Bronson, Luther Wat- kins, J. N. Lloyd, M. F. Crustin, Madison Betts, D. T. White, C. J. Hockett, S. W. Robinson, W. T. Crossley, L. H. Baldwin, John Reed, Preston Irvin, ' Will I. Denny, F. B. Mills, Clint C. Harlan.

Among the number are some of the best and most influential men of the town. The officers elected were J. L. Hackney, Captain; Joseph Peters, First Lieutenant of Engine Department; L. N. Pike, Second Lieutenant Engine Department; Madison Betts, First Lieutenant Hose Department; Jacob Burst, Second Lieutenant Hose Department; Robert Hazard, First Engineer; Lou Fisher, Second Engineer; Robert McMillan, First Lieutenant Hook and Lad- der Department; E. W. Shepherd, Second Lieutenant Hook and Ladder De-

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partment; D. T. White, Secretary Fire Department, and W. H. Rannells, Treasurer.

The Council acted promptly and purchased a complete set of hooks and ladders, with a well-arranged truck for their removal, which were taken in charge by the Hook and Ladder Company. A committee was at once appoint- ed by the same body to purchase a steam fire engine, which resulted in secur- ing one of the Clapp & Jones make of Toledo, Ohio, at a cost of $6,000, in- cluding two hose-reels and 1,000 feet of hose. The engine arrived Wednesday morning, May 26, and was tested on the 30th of June. It was fired up for the first time in the morning, and when in full play, threw water over the spire of the M. E. Church, which is 144 feet in height. In the afternoon, at 3 o'clock, the fire brigade was called out and proceeded with the engine and two hose- reels to Mr. Bentley's pond, just east of town, where the engine was located.

The hose was then run north to the pike, where a one and one-eighth inch nozzle was attached to the end of the first section of 100 feet. In about fifteen minutes after fire had been kindled, the engine began pumping, and soon threw water to a distance of 340 feet. The nozzle was then detached and the hose run up the pike to the college building and beyond, making 1,000 feet of hose in all. The nozzle was attached, the signal given and the engine again began pumping. The experiment was a beautiful one and gave great satisfaction to all who saw it; the jet of water played with terrible force against the cornice of the college building, which is three stories high, and then clear over the edifice, cupola and all and a long way beyond. After this a double hose was attached to the engine, and a nozzle at the end of each 500 feet of hose. Through each of these two hose a stream of water was thrown of volume and force to answer any purpose that might ever be demanded of it in Wilmington. With these two streams the old flouring-mill, located near the railroad, was deluged with water, shingles and weather-boarding were knocked off, doors and blinds forced open, all going to show the great force of the water. The demonstration was attended by a large number of people fron the town and country.

By an amendment to the constitution, September 14, 1880, the name of the company was changed to that of the Wilmington Fire Company, and its different departments to the Clinton Engine Company, the Clinton Hook and Ladder and the Clinton Hose Company.

The officers of the company, in 1882, are D. A. Lamb, Chief; D. Peebles, Captain; C. R. Fisher, Secretary; W. H. Rannells, Treasurer; J. N. Tucker, Engineer; H. H. Barlow, First Lieutenant Engine Department; G. W. Brown, First Lieutenant Hose Department; H. G. Vandewort, Second Lieutenant Hose Department; R. S. Fulton, First Lieutenant Hook and Ladder Depart- ment; W. W. Bangham, Second Lieutenant Hook and Ladder Department; Charles Curl, Fireman; George Barlow, Assistant Engineer. Membership, seventy -five.

The fire department is now supplied with one steam engine, three hose- reels, with 1,500 feet of serviceable hose and one hook and ladder truck fully equipped, and eleven public cisterns, with an average capacity of over 250 barrels, located as follows: One at the court house corner, on South street; one on South; one half way between Main and Locust streets: one on the corner of Locust and South streets; one on the Baptist Church corner; one at the junc- tion of Walnut with Columbus; one at Main and Mulberry street crossing; one at the crossing of Wood and Maple streets; one in front of the Friends' Church, on Mulberry street; one south of the railroad on South street, and one on Locust street near Prairie avenue. The first-named eight were constructed in 1870, and the others in 1875.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

Wilmington Library Company .*- Early in February, 1816, the leading citizens of the new town of Wilmington assembled to form a library associa- tion, that they themselves and their children might enjoy the advantages of a circulating library. All the prominent men of the community-the lawyers, physicians, merchants, teachers and farmers, united their energios to make the now enterprise a success. In their constitution, which bears date February 19, 1816, they provided that "no books which should tend to discredit the Chris- tian religion, or bring into disrepute any religious society or denomination, nor any books which tend to corrupt the morals of youth or others," should be admitted into said library. On this ground they excluded all novels and plays, the Vicar of Wakefield alone being admitted. But their catalogue em- braced many biographies of great men, such as the Life of Washington, Life of Franklin, Robertson's Charles the Fifth; many histories, as Robertson's America, Irish Rebellion, Rollin's Ancient History, Goldsmith's England, History of New England, Josephus' works, French Revolution, Naval Biography, History of China, Milford's Greece; pooms, as Homer's Iliad, Pope's Essay on Man, Cowper's poems, Young's Night Thoughts, and many miscellaneous works, such as Nicholson's Encyclopedia, Park's Travels, Koets' Elements, Debates in the Virginia Convention, Washington's Letters, Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, Lowis & Clarke's Expedition, Fergusson's Astronomy and Atlas, Columbus' Vision, Fox's Journal, Tour to Morocco, Paley's Philosophy and Theology, Watt's Logic, Morse's Universal Geography. Rushe's Lectures, Curran's speeches, Modern Chivalry, Botanic Garden, Cox on Fruit Trees, Goldsmith's Animated Nature, Volney's View, etc. In all, more than 108 volumes. And not only were these books in the library, but they were in constant use by the members, as the weekly record of the librarian shows. It is interesting to note that Curran's Speeches were read by nearly every member of the associa- tion.

Foremost among the members of the worthy company, our attention is attracted by the name of Mary Fallis, afterward Mary Poirco, who was known among us so many years, as the only lady member whose name appears on the . records. Those whose names, some of them for years, appear as active mem- bers are Peter Burr, Loammi Rigdon, Charles Paist, Isaiah Morris, George McManis, Mahlon Haworth, Eli Gaskill, Rice Gaddis, Jesse Hughes, Sr., and Jr., David Hughes, Thomas Kersey, William Brooks, Eli McGregor, Uriah Far- quhar, William R. Cole, Nathan Linton, William Millikan, J. B. Seaman, John McManis, John A. Hays, Samuel T. Loudon, William Hibben, Samuel Wilson, Isaac Wright, James Birdsall, Richard Fallis, Henry and Peter Babb, John Stout, George Carter, Robert Way, John Eachus, James Gallaher, Aaron Sewell, Samuel H. Hale, James Dakin, James Harris, Arnold Treusdell, John Hadley, Joseph Doan, Richard Peirce, John McFall, George D. Haworth, Rockefeller and Perry Dakin, Amos T. Davis, P. F. Crihfield. Those most conspicuous as official members were Eli Gaskill, James McManis. William Millikan, Uriah Farquhar, Eli McGregor, Philip F. Crihfield, J. B. Seaman, John McManis, Librarians and Treasurers; Mahlon Haworth, Isaiah Morris, Uriah Farquhar, William Hibben, Eli McGregor, William Millikan, Nathan Linton, John McManis, Thomas' Gaskill, Peter Burr, Loammi Rigdon, John A. Hays, George McManis, Charles Paist, Directors.

Eighty-one names are enrolled on the books as members, some continuing from the beginning until the end. In 1839, the entire library was sold out. Most of the books were bought by former members. Among other sales, we

*From the manuscript of the lato Judge Harlan.'

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notice that of Pope's Essay on' Man to Richard Peirce, who, it is said, could repeat overy word of that poem from memory.

Looking over the records of this association, and seeing how faithfully the members introduced into their families for years the works constituting this library, leads us to the belief that our fathers thought a love for good books would koop their children from falling into many temptations to which the young are subjected.

Wilmington Reading Room .- In December, 1866, a number of the pub- ic-spirited citizens of Wilmington formed themselves into a society called the " Wilmington Roading Club," for the purpose of the establishment of a pub- lic reading and lecture room. In the neighborhood of $700 was at once sub- scribed, and the club organized with the following officers: Amos Hockett, President; Madison Betts, Secretary; C. C. Nichols, Treasurer; Dr. H. C. Wire, Madison Betts, Cyrus Linton, J. A. Smith and R. M. Wickersham, Directors. Bracknoy's Hall was secured and furnished, and all the leading newspapers, periodicals and magazines wore duly provided. All these advan- tages woro offered to the public generally, under propor rules and restrictions. Ladies were especially invited to take an interest in the enterprise, and all the privileges of the reading-room were tendered them without pocuniary con- sideration. The papers numbered forty odd, and the magazines and journals upward of twenty. The reading-room was open from 2 to 5 o'clock every after- noon, and from 6 to 10 o'clock every evening, except Sunday. Ministers of the Gospel were admitted without pecuniary consideration.

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The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 6

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410