USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 49
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When the township was first settled, the country was a dense forest. Wolves began their dismal howling about dark and kept it up for hours. Wild turkeys would come within the clearings to pick up food, and it was a common practice to leave the door of the corncrib open, and sometimes two or three birds would be caught at once in this way.
There was no outlet from the clearings but by blazed paths through the inter- minable woods. For the accommodation of the settlements, a petition was pre- sented to the County Commissioners, asking for the establishment of a road run- ning from a point on the Greenville and Mississinewa pike in the southwestern part of the township, in a northeasterly direction, intersecting the Greenville and Fort Recovery road, where it crosses the Stillwater, and this road, duly established, was the first highway located and cleared by the people of Jackson Township.
The first church in the township was erected by the Methodists, on the land of John Woods, now owned by Jacob Darlinger, and is still standing. The United Brethren erected a chapel near the center of the township on the Teegarden pike. It is a frame building in which Rev. Keester holds alternating services, the other point being Union City. The Christian denomination hold meetings in the school- house, two miles north of the Huntsbarger corners. Revs. Alonzo Laten and Smith preach here alternately. The First Christian Church of Union City. Ohio, was organized with about thirty-five members, by Elders Henry Gittinger. Harri- son Vinson and C. M. Sharp, in the year 1861. Elder H. Gittinger was the first Pastor of the church. The following named ministers served successively as Pastors of the church, viz., H. Vinson, C. M. Sharp, A. W. Brodric, J. Jacobs. J. Weeks, T. S. Wells and T. A. Brandon. A building was constructed in the eastern part of the city, on two lots on the corner of Oak and Plum streets, at a cost of $1.300. The builder was Jacob Deardorff. and the dedication was by Rev. Joseph Weeks. In 1876, the United Brethren purchased the house and still own it.
Educational interests have not been neglected, as is evidenced by ten school districts, with schools in a flourishing condition. One of the first schoolhouses remembered, stood at the cross roads, one mile east of the "Strait settlement," and one of the early teachers was Richard Butler, from German Township, some time in 1842-43. Another early school building was erected on Section 35. on land owned by John Armstrong. In 1835, the first subscription school was tanght by Amos Barrier, in the Marquis neighborhood. Barrier moved here with his family and opened the school the same year. Alem Fowler was also among the earlier teachers. In 1835, a log schoolhouse was put up on the Crumrine land, now owned by George Haas. Michael Spayd taught the first public school in 1836.
The buildings of the present indicate attention to the comfort of the children. Eight brick and two frame houses, nearly uniform in style and size, accommodate
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the youth of the township. The brick cost $1,200 cach, and a tax has been levied to replace the remaining frame with brick structures. Their average seating capacity is sixty ; teachers' wages, $1.50 per day, and two-thirds of the teachers are gentlemen.
It is remembered that in various sections of this country the gravel hills have been used by an extinct race as the depositories of the remains of their dead, and, in excavating gravel for the State line pike, a great quantity of human bones were discovered which may have belonged to those unknown people. One of the earliest deaths known to Jackson was that of Edward Payne, an old soldier of 1812, who had also participated in the battles of the Revolution ; he was buried in the woods under a beech-tree, there being at this time no graveyard. Within a few years, Mr. Galloway took up the remains and buried them in the new ceme- tery. The original grave here spoken of was the first one made in Union City, Ohio. There is as yet no cemetery in the Ohio portion of the city, but there are graveyards-one on the Marquis farm and one at Hill Grove.
It remains to speak of the mills by whose aid the timber was made a source of wealth and comfort. The Bnekthorn mill, on the Teegarden pike, has been running about sixteen years. It was built by John Parent, and still does a large business, turning out a great deal of heavy timber for railroad and pike purposes. At first, a sash saw was used, afterward a muley. and more recently a circular. This is a steam mill. Two miles north of this mill there is another, owned by J. Hayes, and by him built in 1875. This is also a steam mill, with circular saw. Formerly, what was known as the Rifle Mill stood three miles north of Hunts" barger Cross Roads. It was run by steam, and done away with several years ago. At Dogtown, three miles east of Union City, on the Panhandle road, Samuel Dennison & Co. put up a steam saw-mill about 1855, which did an extensive bus- iness. Much of the lumber used in Union City was obtained from this mill. It changed hands many times, and was last owned by Robison, Harlers & McKee.
Politically, for the last ten years the township has been Democratie ; pre- viously it had been Republican and Whig. About one-sixth of the population is German, one-sixth Irish, and the remainder are American. Industry is the com- mon trait, and the township is a satisfactory home for its people.
UNION CITY.
This enterprising, dual-State city, situated upon that intangible reality the " State line," contains two village corporations with corresponding sets of officials. The western portion is known as the " Indiana Side" and the eastern as the " Ohio Side," and this designation is convenient in reference to these localities. The former is accredited with a population of 5,000, the latter nearly 2,000, making an estimate of 7,000.
The original plat of Union City, Ind., includes a quarter-section of land pur- chased by Jerry Smith of Augustus Loveland early in 1852, for $1,200. he having inherited it a few years previously from his father-in-law, Mr. Crumrine. Prior to 1852, no railroads had been completed to this place. The Dayton & Union termi- nated at Greenville, and there was a sixty-mile gap east and west of Union City on what is now known as the Bee Line road. On December 25, 1852, the former road was completed to Union City, and during the year following the second was finished, and the extraordinary growth of the city is evidenced by the fact of its incorporation. In 1854, the Monroe & Mississinawa Railroad was begun and par- tially graded, but the enterprise lay dormant until 1866, when, through the energy of Dr. J. N. Converse and others, it was pushed forward, and completed in 1867, under the title of the Union & Logansport Railroad. It was subsequently leased to the owners of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Lonis Railroad. Among the first houses erected was a boarding-house by Jacob Livergood for the accom- modation of the hands on the Bellefontaine and Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati
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& Indianapolis Railroads. The first house completed in Union City, Ind., is that now owned by Dr. Yergin, opposite the Eagle office. In this structure a saloon was kept, whose baneful influence was attested by the simultaneous dis- charge of seventeen employes of the railroad shortly after its doors were thrown open. Soon after this, a dry-goods and two grocery stores and a saloon were erected and opened to patronage on the Ohio side. During the years 1853-54. six stores and a number of groceries were opened on the Indiana side. Then a num- ber of saloons were opened, and so apparent were the ill effects of these institu- tions that a war against them was commenced and kept up until the evil traffic was abolished. From that time until now, not a saloon has had existence on the Indiana side, but there are now (1880) thirteen on the Ohio side.
Growth continued; large mercantile and manufacturing establishments located here ; bank s were chartered ; hotels built and thrown open to the public ; telegraph and express offices were opened. Public interest centered on turnpikes and turned to the erection of water-works. These last were finished in 1874, and from a well of 20 feet depth 800 gallons of water are furnished per minute. and conveyed by means of two powerful engines and pipes throughout the city for domestic and manufacturing use. Add to these the potential influence of the schools, the press and the churches, and an idea of the factors of progress used in the development of this city may be realized. The first school was opened by Miss May Ensminger in her father's house on Howard street during the fall of 1853. The first public school was held in the winter of 1853-54, in a Bee-Line boarding-car. The first Methodist class here organized was in the spring of 1852. The first meeting-house was erected during 1858-59, and, in November, 1858. the Christian denomination formed a society. A church had been commenced five years earlier, but was not finished till this time. The First Presbyterian Church was organized under the direction of the Presbytery of Miami by Rev. Isaac A. Ogden. Presbyterian missionary, at the house of Martin Cox, Washington Town- ship. on November 8, 1836. St. Mary's Catholic Church was organized in 1854. The first German Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed by Thomas Lacker in 1857. The primary meeting for the organization of the Universalist Church was held January 19, 1860.
Three Masonic, three Odd Fellows, one Rebecca, one Knights of Pythias and one Red Men's Lodges, Young Men's Christian Association, literary, musical. building and other associations, fire department, ete., are of sufficient importance to warrant notice preparatory to an historic sketch of the Ohio side ; if, indeed, not essential to give increased interest to the subject. Union City, Ohio, was incorporated under the laws of the State in 1853. The petition was presented to the County Commissioners and filed in the office of the Auditor of Darke County, September 4, of the year named, and it was heard and allowed December 6. It was filed for record January 5, 1854, and recorded on the 23d following. The certified copy now in the Mayor's office bears date May 13, 1854, and the follow- ing are the petitioners' names : S. P. MeMillan, B. W. Evans, George W. Inman. E. H. Turpen, Josiah Mongar, David Fruits, F. M. Katsenbarger, John Mathis, James Allen, F. Stahl, N. D. Farrell, H. S. Weinland, J. I. Wolf, R. B. McKee, I. S. Woodbury, Reuben Weinland, John Haas, Z. Brownley, G. R. Dewey, William B. Fields, Courtney Hays, R. N. Stevens, I. D. Carter, J. J. Turpen, R. G. Miller, J. W. Shiveley, J. E. Paxton, A. Adair, S. C. Miller and William B. Woodbury.
The original plat was made by Josiah Mongar in 1853. Mongar owned forty acres now at the center of the corporation on both sides of the railroad. He donated ten acres to the Bee Line as grounds for shops. switches, warehouses. etc., and also erected a saw-mill about the same time, opposite where the brewery now stands, that is, on the corner of Division street and the railroad. The next addition of about ten acres. in the same year, was made by John Haas, soon after which Brownley made an addition. Then Jerry Smith and his brother Oliver. now of Indianapolis, added ten acres. The Fowler Additions, first and second.
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and several others, including the recent one by Mr. Archard, completes the series up to 1880.
The following view of Union City, Ohio, written in 1876, by Alfred Lenox, then and now the oldest living resident, and published in the Times, is appropriate here :
" This portion of the city was incorporated in 1853. The population now numbers about fifteen hundred. There is here a substantial school-building, and the Christians have a commodious frame house for worship. The manufactory of slack-barrels, staves and headings employs from twenty to thirty hands, and affords a market for a vast quantity of timber, which has heretofore been nearly valueless except for fuel. A planing-mill and manufactory, in connection with a lumber-yard, employs from twelve to fifteen hands. There is a furniture factory, with a running force of several hands (about fifteen), and a hub, spoke and chair factory, having about an equal force of employes. All of these industries employ steam to propel their machinery. Besides these, there are two steam saw-mills, a steam flouring-mill with four runs of buhrs, and a furniture manufactory, giving employment to five or six hands. There are, also, five firms engaged in making brick, doing an extensive business in that line, and there is one large tile mann-
factory. Besides the usual proportion of smaller mercantile and mechanical establishments, there are saloons, billiard rooms and an ale manufactory." We learn that " this portion of the city contains a number of private residences, all the principal streets are well graded and graveled, and all turnpikes leading into the city are free to the public." The history of the mechanical and mercantile interests of the Ohio side, for several years from the first and from the era of small beginnings to the later day of more extensive efforts, is briefly expressed in the following paragraphs. Only those who have attempted similar work can fully understand the labor essential to these statements.
The first blacksmith-shop was established by F. Roe, in 1853, at the south end of Division street, then in a strip of woods. In the same year, a shoe-shop was carried on by Lewis Willarime between the Bee-Line Railroad and where Elm street now is. A cooper-shop was established and run by P. R. Galloway, in 1855, for a period of eight months. It was located at the corner of Division street and the railroad. The next blacksmith-shop was carried on by Woodbury & Hulse, also on Division street. A shingle-manufacturing machine was set up by David Fruits, in the northeast part of town, during 1853, and was operated till 1855. The next project realized was a saw-mill, built near Division street, on the west side, near the railroad, by Henry Weinland, with one sash-saw. Then, S. P. McMillan and Thomas Workman set to work and erected a steam flouring-mill, having four runs of buhrs, three-stoned, and having a " hip roof." This mill is still running and does good work. The present proprietor is Thomas McFeeley ; capacity is one hundred barrels in twenty-four hours. The machinery is run by double engines of forty horse-power. The initial dry goods and grocery store was that of Morgan & Carter, opposite the flouring-mill built in 1853. Messrs. Brown and Archard opened a wholesale grocery and liquor store in 1856. The next year. P. R. Galloway ran the largest hoop-pole establishment, at the time, in the State of Ohio. It was located by the switch, near the flouring-mill. Shipments for the winters of 1858 and 1859 amounted to over four hundred car loads. Joseph Tur- pen, in 1855, started a store on the Deerfield road, and, two years prior to this, a little bakery had been opened by Katzenbarger & Stahl, and M. B. Diekey had engaged in tailoring in a shop opposite the flouring-mill.
MANUFACTURES OF UNION CITY.
In a brief recapitulation of the business interests of the city in the past, it is well to recur in contrast to the present as illustrative of permanence and progress in these all-important auxiliaries to the prosperity of a municipality. We set out
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and go not far till we reach the grain warehouse of G. Lambert & Son, on the west side of Division street, south of the Dayton & Union Railroad. The first part of this structure was raised in 1870; it is a two-story frame, 40x24 feet, built by Henry Stoner. There were two cribs adjoining, one being 100x10 feet, the other 20x40. In the spring of 1877, Stoner sold to the present firm. by whom extensive additions have been made. The building and machinery, including a thirty-horse power engine, are estimated at $6.500. The grain handled averages about a quarter-million bushels for the year. Next, is the brick factory of Jacob Snook, together with a tile factory and neck-yoke and single-tree works-each end of Elm street. The wood-works consist of two parts-a brick engine and boiler house, and a framed structure for the lathes. etc. The former was built in the summer of 1879; the latter was completed in January, 1880. The first is 30x80 feet, and 130,000 brick were required to complete the walls and encase the engine and boiler honse. The cost of the structure was about $6,000. The brick factory has been turning out 10,000 per day regularly. The two establishments are located upon grounds containing five acres. The tile factory has for its site five town lots, situated just west of the other works, but within the corporation. The two kilns produce about $6,000 worth of tile in a season. and have been in opera- tion since 1872. George Haas has a large brick kiln about one-fourth of a mile east of town, which he has operated yearly for some time. The Union City Slack Barrel Stave and Heading Works were built, in 1870, by Hugh Wiggins & Son, of Dayton, Ohio. The main building is 30x60 feet. There are seven sheds. whose aggregate length is 1,200 feet, and there are two dry-houses. The cost, including machinery, was some $6,000. The works have been run irregularly for the last five or six years. Amos Wiggins, the junior partner, died in November, 1879. Latterly, the works have been repaired and put in order for running at their full capacity. They are capable of turning out 20,000 staves and 8,000 to 10,000 headings per day. E. H. Kimes has been foreman since the origin of the enterprise. In 1860. Witham & Brother erected a building for the manufacture of clamp-screws, broom handles, trunk slats, handles, and general turning. It was 40x25 feet, two stories, and stood east of State Line street and south of the Dayton & Union Railroad. This structure was destroyed by fire, and early in the spring of 1874 a new building was put up, which consists of two parts, one being 40x80 feet, with an addition 20x50 feet, and the other, 30x60 feet. This building and business belongs to S. L. Carter and George L. Carter. The former is an old resident, who lived in Mississinawa before its organization into a township ; the lat- ter is superintendent. The annual product of this mill is about five hundred dozen clamps, fifty thousand broom handles, over two million trunk slats, and a like number of trunk handles. A saw-mill is in active operation the year round. for their exclusive nse. The lumber is dried by a new patent hot-air process. invented by the proprietors. The establishment is worth about $10,000, and the manufactured stock amounts to about $25.000 a year. An eighty-horse- power engine is now building by the Smith Brothers, Union City, to replace the one now in use, which has been found too weak to drive all the machinery. Eighteen to twenty hands are employed. and the average running time for the last two years has been fifteen hours. The furniture factory of Jolin Koontz was built in 1876. It is 30x50 feet, two stories, with an addition. On the northwest corner of Wall and Walnut streets stands J. T. Hartzell's saw-mill, built in December, 1878. It is run constantly, the motive power being a forty-horse-power engine.
William J. and Charles S. Hook, under the firm name of Hook Bros., com- menced the manufacture of butter tubs and pails at Cardington, Morrow County, in 1868. Suitable timber becoming scarce in that locality, after looking the country over, they decided to remove to Union City. Ind., and did so November, 1877. Some months later. they decided to locate their factory on the Ohio side, and, in 1879, built the present works.
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
The building is a frame, 68x96 feet, and has three stories. It is situated on two acres of land, belonging to the Bee Line Railroad, on Elm street. The build- ing and structure, including, also, the stock, cost $10,000. The works are now running at full capacity, mostly day and night, and average 100,000 packages, assorted sizes, per annum. Thirty to thirty-five hands are employed. A consid- erable share of the stock they work up is furnished from a saw-mill owned and run by them in Versailles, Wayne Township. Their business amounts to about $30,000 a year. The power is supplied by a very neat, compact steam engine, seventy-five horse-power, made at the works of Smith Bros. Their location at this point was the happy conjunction of large quantities of suitable timber and excellent shipping facilities. When it was learned that the proprietors contem- plated removal to the Ohio side, a purse of $600 was subscribed by the citizens of the west side to induce them to remain, but they declined, while they appreciated the compliment conferred. The works are a model of machinery and management, and employes are promptly paid each Saturday night.
Meanck & Son are proprietors of a furniture factory. The senior proprietor came into Darke County in 1863, from Estell County, Ky. In 1867. he erected a two-story building, 20x40 feet, and, in 1875, doubled the capacity of the rooms by an addition equal in size to the original structure. There are eight or nine hands employed. Furniture in general is here manufactured.
McKee & Robison are engaged in the manufacture of paper bags. They established themselves at this point March 6, 1880, and have been running from five to eight hands on grocery bags, and in connection carry on a trade in old iron and rags. Their present location is in the " Orr Building."
A hardwood lumber-yard was opened by Messrs. Jones & Benner in Septem- ber, 1879. January 1, 1880, Mr. Ebert became a partner. Shipments are made to various points in this and adjoining counties.
These, the active business enterprises of the day, will soon pass into the his- tory of the past, and in future it will be an easy task to learn from a brief perusal of these pages whence and by whom the early prosperity of Union City was achieved. A city, to prosper, needs a favorable site, good communications with the outer world and citizens of wealth, intelligence and energy, and in these essen- tials, fully enjoyed, the rapid growth of the town has been found.
The first Justice of the Peace on the Ohio side was Silas P. McMillan. He was succeeded by David French. Mr. McMillan was also the first Mayor. Anecdotes are current of his peculiar methods of transacting official business. On one occa- sion he was engaged in a game at cards, when the Marshal brought in a prisoner. His Honor requested them to " be seated until the game was over," saying that " if I quit now, I will be stuck for the game," and the parties sat down and waited the conclusion of the play, when the case received requisite attention.
The Squire, as well as Mayor, on another occasion, sat in a case wherein two citizens were engaged as counsel. The prisoner had been arrested for petit lar- ceny. The evidence was overwhelming, and his counsel taking him into an adjoin- ing room, raised the window and counseled him to go, and he hastened to depart. The announcement of his escape was followed by prompt pursuit, but terror added wings to the fugitive's feet, and he safely crossed the State line. The " Court " was more amused than offended, and joined heartily in the laugh which followed upon the announcement of the culprit's escape.
Esquire Livergood was also one of the first Mayors and Justices of the Peace. In 1854-55, and again in 1857-58, ordinances were drafted, but lost or destroyed by interested parties, before they were adopted. Such, too, was the fate of all other records of council proceedings. Just prior to the late war, William A. Orr was elected Mayor and took the oath of office, but learning that there were no ordinances in existence to guide him in the discharge of his duties, and that there were no records of council proceedings, he refused to serve. New ordinances were drafted and under consideration, but the outburst of war prevented their
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passage, by decimating the council, so that no progress to speak of was made, beyond the mere fact of the incorporation. until 1865, when the ordinances needed were drafted, adopted and published.
The first school after the incorporation was taught in a room on the third floor of the large building on the corner of Sycamore street and the railroad. Later, a two-story frame schoolhouse was erected on the lot whereon the present brick building stands. The old schoolhouse was replaced in 1870 by the present com- modious structure, which, in its turn, is becoming too small to accommodate the ever increasing attendance.
There are two small, neat frame buildings, located near each other, on Elm street-the one is used as a township house, the other as the city hall. The one which stands farther to the east, was built in 1877, by J. S. Johnson. The Township Clerk's office is in one room of this building, and the law office of O. A. Baker occupies the west end. The other building has also two rooms-one used by the Mayor and Village Clerk as their office, and the other as the office of C. J. Prickett.
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