The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 61

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 61

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b. B. Drum

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Cashier for more than a year prior to that date, succeeded Mr. Miller as Cashier. This institution does a general banking and exchange business, and is favorably regarded by the people of Hardin County as a safe, relia- ble, and well conducted private banking house.

The Hardin Savings Bank was incorporated March 5, 1875, with a capital stock of $50,000, and purchased the Williams' Bank building, etc., wherein they began business. The incorporators were George Pfeiffer, Thomas Espy, James Young, William H. Young, John Pfeiffer, Conrad Kahler, Joseph Paulucci, J. P. Humphreys and John F. Gramlich. The first officers were Joseph Paulucci, President; John Pfeiffer, Vice Presi- dent; Thomas Espy, Treasurer and Cashier. These officers served two years and were succeeded by William H. Young, President; H. W. Gramlich, Vice President; Henry M. Shingle, Treasurer and Cashier, who, after filling the positions one year, were succeeded by Joseph Paulucci, President; James Young, Vice President; H. W. Gramlich, Treasurer and Cashier; and these officers served until the bank was sold to the First National Bank in January, 1881.

The Kenton Savings Bank .- On the 23d of September, 1875, the fol- lowing gentlemen incorporated this bank, viz .: Lewis Merriman, W. M. Chesney, John Saylor, J. S. Robinson, William Moore, Asher Letson, Ed- mund Carey, Clemens Lopker and Samuel Haynes. The.bank was organ- ized and began business on the west side of the square with the following officers: Lewis Merriman, President; J. S. Robinson, Vice President; Sol- omon Kraner, Cashier; W. S. Robinson, Assistant Cashier. Mr. Merriman soon resigned the Presidency, and W. M. Chesney was elected, serving un- til January, 1882, when Mr. Merriman again became President of the bank. In January, 1876, the bank was removed to its present location on the northeast corner of Detroit and Columbus streets, known as the "Bank Block." W. A. Norton succeeded W. S. Robinson as Assistant Cashier in July, 1878, and on the 16th of March, 1882, Mr. Kraner was succeeded as Cash- ier by James Watt. The capital stock of this bank is $50,000, all paid up, and its business has grown from year to year, until, to-day, it is looked upon as one of the best and safest banking houses in Northwestern Ohio. Its officers are at all times courteous and gentlemanly, whose characters, both as progressive business men of integrity and honorable citizens, command the highest respect.

The First National Bank of Kenton wasorganized January 11, 1881, with a paid-up capital stock of $50,000, and the company purchased the bank build- ing, etc., of " The Hardin Savings Bank," wherein they began and have since continued the banking business. The first Board of Directors were S. L. Hoge, Thomas Espy, Nathan Ahlefeld, James and William H. Young, A. B. Jonson, H. W. Gramlich, Joseph Paulucci and John S. Rice. The first officers of the bank were as follows: £ Joseph Paulucci, President; S. L. Hoge, Vice President; H. W. Gramlich, Cashier; but in the short space of two months a change was found necessary and James Young was chosen President, vice Paulucci resigned. In October, 1881, Mr. Young was suc- ceeded by S. L. Hoge, who has since filled the position, John S. Rice suc- ceeding Mr. Hoge as Vice President, while Mr. Gramlich has been Cashier from the organization of the bank up to the present. James Howe is As- sistant Cashier and H. M. Moore, Teller. The present Board of Directors are S. L. Hoge, Thomas Espy, William Moore, H. W. Gramlich, A. B. Johnson, John S. Rice and Adam Ritzler. There can be no doubt as to the solidity of this bank, for it is founded on the wise national banking

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law of the United States, backed by men of capital and conducted by offi- cials of prudence and experience. Its business has grown rapidly and the handsome three-storied National Bank Block on the southeast corner of Main and Franklin streets, which they have greatly improved since 1881, is in keeping with the financial prosperty of the institution.

TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE AND EXPRESS OFFICES.

Late in 1848, the Western Union Telegraph Company opened an office in Kenton, and for nearly twenty years was the only line running through the town; but, some time prior to 1870, the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company erected a new line, and, soon after, the Western Union quit this field and abandoned its office at Kenton. In August, 1875, the Western Union again opened an office at this point, and both companies remained doing business until about two years ago, when they were consolidated, the Western. Union absorbing the Atlantic & Pacific. Three of the earliest operators in Kenton were J. M. Brunson, Warren Brunson and H. C. Brun- son, who succeeded each other in the order named, and managed the busi- ness from shortly after the office was established until 1864. John Swartz has had charge of the Western Union business at Kenton since August 1, 1875.

On the 1st of June, 1882, the telephone office was opened at Kenton, the public station being located on West Franklin street, close to Detroit. George H. Harris was the first manager, and was succeeded by John Swartz, in March, 1883. Kenton has now telephonic communication with every town on the line of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad from Findlay south, also with the towns between Springfield and Cincinnati, as well as Ada, Dunkirk and Lima. Between sixty and seventy subscribers support the enterprise in Kenton alone, and it is only justice to say that the telephone has proven a blessing to every city or town where it has so far been established

The United States Express Company began business at Kenton in 1850, Archie M. Davis being its first agent. The following agents in the order named served the company since that time, viz .: J. T. Jennings, B. R. Brunson & Sons, B. F. Brunson, J. H. Harrod and George H. Harris, as Harrod & Harris, B. F. Brunson, J. H Harrod, and, in 1874, B. F. Brunson again took charge of the office and has since filled the position to the satis- faction of all. In the fall of 1866, the Merchants' Union Express Com- pany established an opposition line, but their office existed only about six months, since which time the United States Express Company have done all the express business of Kenton.

THE SCIOTO IMPROVEMENT.

As late as 1869, there were no iron bridges in the county. Upon investiga- tion it was found that the cost of an iron bridge was but very little more than of a good wooden one. The two bridges, south of town, spanning the Scioto, were in a dilapidated condition, and new bridges were needed badly. The river made quite a detour, so that a 150-foot bridge was re- quired at either crossing, and the land lying between, as well as the streets, were flooded at every freshet. B. R. Brunson conceived the idea of cutting a straight channel for the river so that a 100-foot span would answer in- stead of a 150-foot, and at the same time save the flooding of that part of the town. When the above proposition was made, it met with strong oppo- sition, was called a piece of wild extravagance, and, while the work was in prog-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

ress, was dubbed as "Brunson's Dutch Gap Canal." The facts in the case are, that after the town paid its share for making the two streets, about $1,000, and that compared with the amount saved in the length of span of the two bridges (that would have to be built), the cost to the county was comparatively light, and was paid for out of the ordinary bridge fund without crippling bridge improvements in other parts of the county. Notwithstanding the hue and cry raised that "the credit of the county would be ruined, county orders would go on the market at a discount, marked (not paid for want of funds), " the credit of the county was not impaired in the least, and no one will now question as to the value of the improvement, both to the town and county. The iron bridges have been in use for ten years; they are built on solid limestone abutments, and from present appearances will stand long after both the builders and the opposers are forgotten. Without the above-named improvement, there would be no South Kenton to-day.

HOTELS.

In the sketch on the pioneers of Kenton, we have given the early his- tory of the Williams and Furney hotels. The former was carried on until about 1854, when it was remodeled by Judge Goodin and converted into business rooms, which were burned down, August 30, 1856. Luther Fur- ney carried on business in the "Mansion House" until 1859, when he aban- doned the calling, and the building was removed to South Detroit street, where most of it still remains. There were several other taverns opened at an early day in different portions of the town. The "American House " was opened, in 1845, by a Mr. Jackson, in a frame building previously erected by a Mr. Gordon, on Columbus street, opposite the square. He soon quit the business, and Archibald Campbell succeeded him, who, after two years, was followed by William Cadwallader. He was the last to keep there, as the hotel soon closed its doors. A hotel was started in 1839, on East Franklin street, by Henry Garrett, one of the pioneers of Kenton, but he soon went out of the business. Many years afterward, or just prior to the war, James Mumford opened a hotel in the same place, which ran for a short time. Another of the early hotels was the " Imerson House," run by Mr. Imerson, on the northwest corner of Detroit and Columbus street. The same gentleman subsequently kept in the Reese House building.

Reese House .- In 1847-48, Benjamin Eglin erected a two-story and a half brick hotel on the southeast corner of Franklin and Market streets, which he called the "Kenton Hotel." He carried on business here until the spring of 1860, when Col. James Cantwell bought the property and en- gaged in the business. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, Col. Cant- well entered the service, and, at the second battle of Bull Run, was killed at the head of his regiment. During the war, this house was known as the "Union Hotel," Col. Cantwell having changed the name. In the spring of 1865, Henry Reese bought it and called it the " Reese House," which title it has since borne. The building was raised to three stories in 1866, and, the following year, Mr. Reese built the west ell. In 1880, the east ell was erected and the house now contains sixty rooms. It is the oldest hotel in Kenton, and is regarded as a first-class establishment.

Dugan House .- This commodious three-storied brick hotel was erected, in 1872, by Patrick Dugan, on West Franklin street, opposite the Indian- apolis, Bloomington & Western passenger depot. The house contains forty rooms, all of which are large, comfortably furnished and well ventilated, and it is undoubtedly one of the leading hotels of the city.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The Franklin House was built by Dr. U. P. Leighton for a private res- idence, but, about 1877, it was purchased by William Born, who opened a hotel called the "Franklin House," which he ran until its destruction in the fire of May 27, 1881. It was a frame building and stood on the site of the Southard House.

The Ritzler Hotel was opened by Adam Ritzler in May, 1881, in the two-storied frame building on West Franklin street, still occupied by him. It has twenty-five rooms, and does a fair share of the hotel trade.

Southard House. - During the summer of 1882, R. W. Southard erected a three-storied brick hotel on West Franklin street, close to the Indianap- olis, Bloomington & Western passenger depot. It was opened, November 27, 1882, contains thirty-two rooms, and is one of the first-class hotels of Kenton, being creditably furnished and well managed.

These comprise about all the hotels of the past and present worthy of mention. It is true that others have existed and still exist that might be called hotels, but as they do little or no transient business, they may, more properly speaking, be called boarding houses. In the pioneer days the hardy backwoodsman knew little and cared less for luxuries, but found in corn bread, potatoes and wild meat a substantial satisfaction for all the cravings of his appetite. His rough out-door existence created demands for solid food, and this the pioneer tavern furnished in abundance. Many hotels have appeared in Kenton, some to exist for a brief period, others to claim a longer lease of life, but most, if not all, after various vicissitudes, yielded to the demands of modern improvement and passed away forever.

DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW OF KENTON IN 1883.

In reviewing the history of Kenton, the reader will be forcibly struck by its solid, steady growth, not only in population, but in everything that goes to make up a live, progressive town. Beginning with 1840, when its first official census was taken, we find that it then contained 300 inhabi- tants; 1845, 500; 1847, 733; 1850, 1,065; 1860, 1,648; 1870, 2,610; 1880, 3,940; and, according to the census taken by the officials of the town in 1883, it has now a population of more than 5,000 within its corporate lim- its. Until 1840, Kenton did not possess a single brick residence or busi- ness block, but in that year William Cadwallader erected a small one-story brick house on the northwest corner of Ohio and Main streets. It was sub- sequently owned by John Espy, who finished the interior, and it was looked upon in those days as an elegant residence. The building is yet standing in a fair state of preservation, and is occupied as a wagon shop. The second brick residence was built by a Mr. Bumbinger, on Franklin street,

facing the public square. It is a two-storied structure, joins Dickson's Opera House on the west and is now occupied by two saloons. Thus we find that, until about 1850, little had been done toward the improvement of the town, and that it was still a small village with very few pretensions.

We have previously given a history of the pioneers of Kenton in 1857, churches, post offices and postmasters, schools, newspapers, secret societies, medical profession, city officials, fire protection and city buildings, ceme- teries, past and present manufacturing interests, gas works, water works, opera house, banks, telegraph, telephone and express offices, Scioto improve- ment and hotels, and we now give the names of the leading business firms, outside of those already spoken of, who at present constitute the commercial strength of Kenton. The dry goods houses are H. C. Koller, Metellus Thomson, W. A. Filler, Benedict Fink and S. L. Newcomb; wholesale no-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

tions, Lewis Merriman; grocers, Charles Wendt, B. F. Brunson, Henry Dickson, A. M. Davis, J. A. Steiner, George Merriman, Milligan & George, William Ellis, J. A. Matler, R. D. Alter, Fred Fogle, David Riffe, Weston Bros. & Co., William Campbell, Luther Furney, Abraham Burley, Peter Geissel, B. F. Smith, J. O. Walker & Co., McCabe & Harvey; druggists, J. A. Rogers, W. D. Dean, W. W. Snodgrass, B. F. Shultz, Binckley Bros., J. N. McCoy, L. B. Tyson; hardware, Cantwell & Co., Robinson & Spel- man, George R. Moore, Jr. ; clothing, hats, caps, etc., F. S. & A. Letson, C. Morgengroth & Bro., H. K. Ford, William Dougherty, W. H. Moses, Strong & Jordan, J. L. Robey; boots and shoes, D. P. Zearing, John Kaiser, J. C. Miller & Son, H. W. Atwood, Charles Link, William Gilmore, Peter Lautenschlager; stoves and tinware, Enoch Merriman, John Fink, C. C. Biddle, H. H. Wynn; books and stationery, L. W. Barr, D. S. Fisher, L. J. Demorest; harness and saddles, D. W. Sullivan, Joseph Ichler, J. & A. Dean, J. A. Gerlach; jewelers, Benjamin Garretson, D. L. Dowe, Harvey Chapman, W. D. Troxel; William Gilmore, J. H. Rhodes; merchant tail- ors, J. B. Fletcher, A. C. Fullerton, G. Danz; millinery, etc, Metellus Thomson, A. Tarr, C. M. Lewis, E. M. Collins; bakeries and confection- ery, Philip J. Hart, Lewis Price, Kirchner Bros .; meat markets, Portner & Myers, J. Alt & Co., Farnum & Lintz, Ramsey & Cox, J. Lintz; Furni- ture, W. F. Damon, Theodore Schindewolf, Ed. Sorgen; chinaware, Kuert & Reely; gunstore, etc., M. S. Weaver; elevators, Seymour & Co., E. Law- son; music dealers, Benedict Fink, J. W. Ulrich; steam gas fitting store, E. C. Humphreys; livery stables, T. F. Van Horn, Alonzo Lynch, McGui- gin & Stevenson, D. S. Johnson, Joseph Daniels; photographers, S. K. Davis, Winters Bros., J. R. Shawd; dentists, G. J. Carter, George Salzman, I. M. Williams; carpenters and builders, John S. Scott, John Kemper, John P. Cook, Lambert Bros., Bain & Hicks; contractors for brick work, John Burkhart, Joseph Burkhart and Joseph Erwin. There are twenty- six saloons, two cigar factories, six barber shops, six real estate dealers, several small blacksmith and other sorts of shops, where all classes of re- pairing is the principal business done; also the usual number of insurance and other kinds of agents, whose offices are a necessary appendage to every good town or city in the land.

Kenton, as it is to-day, with its wide, well-built streets, lined with fine business blocks and elegant private residences, shaded by beautiful forest trees, where fifty years ago a few log cabins marked the spot whereon the county seat had been locatel, is truly a change not dreamed of by its found- ers at the time when they pitched their tents in the primitive forest then covering its site. It possesses all the natural advantages which a kind Providence has bestowed upon this great commonwealth. Surrounding it, lies a rich and fertile country, settled by as good a class of citizens as the State can boast of. Possessing excellent water and fine drain- age facilities, an unsurpassed system of pikes, radiating in every direction from her corporate limits, crossed by two first-class railroads, affording splendid advantages to the shipper or traveling public, and its churches and schools, the pride of her citizens, together with her beautiful public square, render all Kenton a desirable place for residence. The volume of business has kept steady pace with the increase of population, but it has been a healthy growth, speaking well for the prudence and foresight of her capital - ists, merchants, manufacturers and others engaged in business pursuits.

In closing this review of the history of Kenton, we cannot do better than to insert the followng extract from a centennial address delivered by

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A. B. Johnson before the Pioneer Association of Hardin County, July 4, 1876. He says: " The residence of Gen. J. S. Robinson, in Kenton, is situated on the dividing ridge. I have read somewhere a beautiful de- scription of the devious travels of the rain drops which fall upon the sum- mit of the Alps that divide the basin of the Mediterranean from the water- shed of the great Northern Ocean. So might we speak of the rain drops that fall upon this residence at Kenton. Those which fall upon the one side flow down into the Tymochtee, thence into the Sandusky River, past meadow land and forest glade, till they become part of the blue waters of Lake Erie, and then dash in majestic grandeur over the mighty falls of Niagara, through the beautiful lake of Ontario, down the rapid St. Lawrence, past the Thousand Islands, till at last those same rain drops form part of the dense and impenetrable fogs, off the coast of Newfound- land, that have brought death and disaster to many a stately ship. The rain drops that fall upon the other side flow down into the Scioto River, and, passing along its beautiful valley through the richest portion of the State, at last strike the Ohio River; thence down that stream, past furnace and factory, city and town, till they become a part of the mighty Mississippi, 'Father of Waters.' Following its turbid current onward to the gulf, they at last form a part of the glowing sun-lit waves that forever murmur along the shores of the Caribbean Sea."

PART IV.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

И.Н.Brown

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

ROUND HEAD TOWNSHIP.

This was the first organized township of the fifteen subdivisions of Hardin County; in fact, it was erected one year prior to the organization of this county in 1833, and originally embraced a large scope of country to the north and east of its present boundaries. As the years went by, other townships were erected, and Round Head reduced to its present dimensions .. The first general election of county officers was held at the cabin of Jona- than Carter April 1, 1833. the number of votes cast being sixty-three. Of this election and its results, the reader is referred to the general history, where a full account of the pioneer elections and officials will be found un- der their respective heads.

This township is almost a right-angle parallelogram in shape, extending nearly eight miles from north to south, with an average width, from east to west, of about three and a quarter miles. It is bounded on the north by Marion Township, on the east by McDonald Township, on the south by Logan County, and on the west by Auglaize County. It embraces both Congress and Virginia Military lands. The greater portion of the lands north of the Scioto River are of the former class, and that portion south of said river are of the latter class of lands.

STREAMS, SURFACE, SOIL AND PRODUCTS.

In the northwest corner of the township, passing from west to east through the center of Section 6, thence in a northeast course across the northwest part of Section 5, into Marion Township, is a small stream, known as Pretty Run. A little more than a mile south of this, in Section 7, is Ford's Run, which enters from Auglaize County, and courses in a northeast direction through said Section 7 and Sections 8, 9 and 4, passing into Marion Township at the northeast corner of the latter-named Section. But the principal stream is the Scioto River, which takes its rise in the prairie in the west part of this township and the east part of Auglaize County, at the southwest corner of Section 30, and courses in a southeast direction; thence eastward and northeast until it reaches the east line of the township at the northeast corner of Section 33; from which point its course is north and northeast, forming the east boundary line of the township, until it enters Marion Township at its northeast corner. The surface is level and rolling. In the southern central portion, for some distance on each side of the Scioto and down the said stream in the east portion of the township until it reaches the marsh, the surface is undulating and in some places a little hilly. The balance of the township is generally level. The soil is principally a clay and loam, except some of the lower, flat lands and the marsh, which consists of a deep, black loam. It is nearly all rich and productive, and, as a township, is an excellent body of land for agricult- ural purposes. The marsh lands in this township comprise some twelve to fifteen hundred acres, which is still at present nearly useless, as it is too wet for cultivation; but of this we shall write nothing further here, as it is treated of in full in a chapter in the general history of the county. Wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and hay are produced in abundant crops. The land was originally heavily timbered, the forests consisting of the varieties here-

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tofore mentioned in the other townships of this county, viz .:- White, black and red oak, ash, elm, beech, maple, walnut, hickory, buckeye and syca- more.

ROADS AND PIKES.

This township is not favored with a railroad within its limits; its near- est station and shipping point is Belle Centre. But for roads and pikes it has an abundance of material, the hills and rolling lands being imbedded with good gravel. The Round Head & Ada pike passes through the entire length of the township, near its center, from north to south. The Round Head & Belle Centre and the Kenton & Round Head, with one or two others, are all good pikes, and make traveling to all principal points easy and pleasant.

PIONEERS.

The first settler of this township was Samuel Tidd, a native of Penn- sylvania, who settled on Section 21, in February, 1822, where he died March 8, 1851. Next, in the order of time, came the Widow Richey, with her two sons, Samuel and Andrew, and located on Section 20. They were also from Pennsylvania, whence they emigrated to Logan County, Ohio. Here the father died, and at the date mentioned the family removed to this township, where the sons yet reside. A fuller sketch of these families will be found in the general history of the county.

James Hilt came to Round Head Township during the year 1825, also settling on Section 20. He was born near Baltimore, Md., removed thence to Lancaster County, Penn., and, subsequently to Logan County, Ohio; thence to Hardin. He remained here one or two years, and went back to Logan County, but, in 1833, he again came to this town- ship, and located on the same section, where he died, September 25, 1862, aged ninety-nine years. His wife died, in 1851, aged seventy-eight years. During the last eleven years of his life, he was totally blind. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church during his young manhood; subsequently he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church with his wife, and remained an earnest and practical, every-day Christian, and a devoted member of this church for more than sixty years. He was the father of the following children: John C., Nancy, Martin, Sarah, James, Rosanna, Samuel and Mary; all now deceased but James, who now. resides near Huntersville.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 61

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076