Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 31

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189

USA > Ohio > Hancock County > Findlay > Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens > Part 31

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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their wares to all points in the United

ing and equipments to meet the needs of the company's increasing trade. This build- States where glass is made. The company ing is to be finished by April 1, 1910. The number of men on the pay roll at this writ- ing (Sept. 25, 1909), is 136, 127 of whom are voters, and the annual value of the out- put is $350,000. . A large number of the Buckeye Ditchers are sold in the United States, Canada and Argentine Republic, but a goodly number have been sent to Europe and as many as five have been shipped to Australia. was incorporated under the Laws of Ohio in 1888, and the present officers are: Pres- ident, C. H. Lambie; vice president and treasurer, J. M. Lambie; secretary, J. G. Quay. They own an extensive brick build- ing of 320 feet and facing a spur of the C. H. & D. R. R., with a depth of 250 feet, em- ploying 150 men, with the value of their output $150,000 a year, and are still making extensive improvements and additions to The U. S. Electric Porcelain Co.'s works are located in the north part of the town on the T. & O. C. R. R. The company was incorporated in February, 1905, with a cap- ital of $50,000. The officers are : President, F. W. Williams ; vice president, C. H. Bige- low; secretary and treasurer, W. S. Bish. From 90 to 100 men find employment here at good wages and the capacity of the out- put is $100,000. All kinds of electrical porcelain are made here that find a ready sale in the market, it being an article of steady demand, and that demand is still in its infancy and will grow with the numer- ous and various uses of electricity coming into utility form day by day. The dimen- sions of this brick factory building is 120x 400 feet. The plant has had a very steady run, missing only one day in thirteen months. this plant, one of which is the installing of electrical power throughout. They manu- facture clay pots of mammoth dimensions, thickness and weight out of a mixture of different clays, some brought from Mis- souri and some imported from Germany. These are combined in different propor- tions and from the large vessels in which the material composing glass is put and melted. The tank blocks are immense fire clay bricks, ranging in size from a foot square and 18 to 20 inches long, to 3 to 5 feet square and a foot thick, and weighing more than a half a ton, and are used to build large tanks used for the same purpose as the clay pots, in the making of window glass and bottles. In making the pot it is necessary that the clay should be mixed by tramping it with the bare feet, and no other process has been found available.

The Findlay Clay Pot Co. was organized during the gas boom in 1888, when there were over a dozen glass factories in the town, and although with the failing gas sup- ply the factories sought new gas fields, yet from that day to this the Clay Pot Works has had a steady growth in the quantity and quality of its trade until now they send

The Boss Manufacturing Company is in- corporated under the laws of Illinois with a capital stock of $500,000. President, W. H. Lyman; vice president, H. T. Terry ; secretary and treasurer, F. M. Lay; man- ager of the Findlay Plant, Wm. E. Houck.

The main plant is located at Kewanee, Ill., with seven others in different parts of

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the country. The Findlay plant employs period of sixty-four years. In connection with 450 people with a pay roll of $9,000 a month and an output of 20,000 dozen pairs of gloves a week. The expense of running the plant is $9,000 a week. Not only gloves, but mittens and husking gloves are made here. The factory is located on Liberty Street with a track of the L. E. & W. R. R. running directly into it, giving great con- venience of shipping. Their buildings are substantial brick structures, one 50x72, three story; one 50x100, three story; one 42x46, one story; and besides they occupy two rooms on Main Cross Street and are expecting to build more. They have stor- age enough for sixty car loads of products, and carry on hand over half a million yards of materials. All the machinery is pro- pelled by electrical power, which is gen- erated in the plant.

D. Kirk, Sons and Company, Wholesale Gro- cery. This firm was organized and incorpo- rated under the laws of Ohio in 1899. In 1905 they built a fine pressed-brick building on east Sandusky Street, fifty feet front and one hun- dred and thirty feet deep with basement and four stories high. The track of the Big Four Railroad runs directly into the building, ren- dering the shipment of goods very convenient. The officers of the incorporation are: Presi- dent, D. Kirk; vice president, M. Kirk; secre- tary and treasurer, Robert Kirk; manager, David Kirk, Jr.

The David Kirk Flouring Mill is located on the right bank of Eagle Creek on East San- dusky Street and is the oldest manufacturing plant in Hancock County. In 1845 John Ju- lian and Martin Hershey bought the ground for one hundred and fifty dollars and built the structure that has remained to the present, a

the business of grinding wheat and corn there was a carding machine that carded wool into rolls for spinning on the domestic wheels be- fore the days of machinery. This was in the days before the war. Later there was a plan- ing mill set up in connection with the custom grinding, it being managed by D. C. Fisher. In 1846 Julian and Hershey sold the property to Benjamin Huber for $7,500, who ran the mill for nineteen years, when it was sold to Milton B. Patterson in 1865, for the consider- ation of $5,500. Mr. Patterson sold a fourth interest to E. M. Norwood for $1,300, and in 1867 the plant was sold to W. W. McConnell, who failed in business and the property was bid off at sheriff's sale by the present owner in 1879. For the last thirty years Mr. Kirk has run the mill very successfully, buying in grain, grinding it and shipping the product in con- nection with his custom work. The property is still in first class condition.

Findlay Table Manufacturing Company .- President, W. F. Hosler; secretary and treas- urer, Lewis Hensner; manager, J. W. An- dregg. This company are manufacturers of extension and library tables and began opera- tion in 1886. On February 23, 1902, the entire plant was destroyed by fire, but was at once re- built and has been in successful operation ever since. They have a capacity for an output of $100,000 of products a year, when run to the full extent. About seventy-five men find em- ployment here.

The Hollerback Piano Company .- Presi- dent, L. Hollerback ; vice president, W. H. Har- lington; secretary, W. E. Houck; treasurer, Lynn S. Nicols.

This company are manufacturers of the Hol- lerbach pianos, and occupy a four-story brick

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building on Western Avenue near Lima Ave- nue, formerly the Lantern Works. The com- pany was incorporated in February, 1909, and have a capacity when in full force of five pianos a day. About thirty men are employed here.

The H. H. Fassett Planing Mill, a substan- tial, brick structure on East Crawford Street, was built by H. H. Fassett and commenced operation in May 1905. On April 21, 1906, Mr. Fassett died and the business of the mill and lumber trade devolved upon Mrs. Fassett, who was very successful in the business until August 15, 1909, when in a severe electrical storm the building was struck by lightning and with the machinery and materials therein was reduced to almost a complete loss, without in- surance. But the courageous Mrs. Bassett, with the assistance of her sons, who are still only lads, has commenced the re-construction of the plant.

Tarbox and McCall, engaged in the manu- facture of crushed stone and cement building blocks are located on Western Avenue, where they have an output of 40,000 cubic yards of crushed stone a year. Part of this amount is used locally and part exported for the construc- tion of stone pike. Two mammoth crushers are in use, one to crush the stones to road-mak- ing size, and one to crush them to a sand for plastering walls for which it makes a far better material than wash-sand, forming with lime a complete rock composition.

The Findlay Casket Company, an indtistry carried on at 343 Cherry Street, and run for sixteen years by Frank and Plotner, was or- ganized and incorporated December 16, 1908, and the following officers were elected: Pres- ident, Ray E. Fluckey; vice president, C. J. Pickens; secretary and treasurer, E. W. Funk.

The company manufactures caskets and

funeral supplies. They have a capacity of 100. a week, make the finest cloth covered caskets, selling to the local trade, and are successful competitors in the open markets against the best factories. A special feature of their trade is the making of the couch and davenport va- rieties of couch caskets.

Hayward & Young are proprietors of a plan- ing mill, and deal also in coal. They are lo- cated on Crystal Avenue.

The Findlay Carriage Company. On lots 518-520-522 West St., Findley, Ohio, between Sandusky and Hardin Streets, in a building standing on leased ground, was begun the man- ufacturing establishment of O. J. Daugherty, about 1890, which never yet ceased growing and from about 1904 was known as the Find- lay Carriage Company. In the beginning the company and Mr. Daugherty were one and the same; only a few new wagons were made, the greater part of the time being taken up in re- pairing vehicles of all kinds. In 1904 A. H. Moyer, who had been engaged in the manufac- ture and sale of buggies, carriages and wagons at Mt. Cory, Ohio, and had built up quite an enviable reputation for good work, sold out to his junior partner, moved to Findlay and joined in partnership with Mr. Dougherty, the latter being the woodworker and A. H. Moyer the blacksmith. These two gentlemen soon had a good trade, making. and selling more than 150 vehicles annually, aside from the large repair trade they enjoyed. In August, 1906, J. D. Moyer, who had hitherto been engaged as teacher and superintendent of schools in Michola and Sedgwick, Kansas, was induced to join in the partnership, taking charge of the office, collections, etc., at the same time giving much attention to the sales department. This trinity partnership only continued till October

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of the same year, when A. H. and J. C. Moyer and have continued the same since. They now purchased Mr. Daugherty's interest and con- tinued the business which had outgrown their building so much that in the fall of 1899 they were compelled to build a new addition two stories high, 30 by 75 feet, and add many im- provements which enabled them to keep pace with their growing trade. Scarcely had they become settled in and accustomed to their new quarters and conditions when on Feb. 1, 1900, a disastrous fire destroyed the entire plant. Soon after, their present location-200-202- 204-206 West Crawford Street-was pur- chased, which was then known as the old Table Works, and which was for some years idle. The front was torn down, the remainder im- proved and remodeled so as to be convenient for the business and the present splendid "Moyer Block" was erected at a considerable cost. In 1902 the Findlay Carriage Company engaged in the wholesale manufacture and sale of buggies, carriages and business wagons,

have a reputation second to none for the pro- duction of high grade, well-finished, stylish work, which is shipped all over the north cen- tral states east of the Mississippi. In 1905 the Findlay Carriage Company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio with $50,000.00 capi- tal stock, most of which was paid up, in which capacity the business has been conducted. John N. Doty, president; E. C. Taylor, vice-presi- dent; A. H. Moyer, treasurer and manager; J. C. Moyer, secretary. J. N. Doty, E. C. Tay- lor, A. H. Moyer, J. C. Moyer, C. G. Cook, J. T. Smith, A. E. Taylor are the Board of Di- rectors.

The company now have engaged in the man- ufacture of automobiles in connection with car- riages and buggies, and predict a bright fu- ture, as they have planned and designed a ma- chine of the best style, mechanism and finish that cannot help but please.

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CHAPTER XXL

BANKS AND BANKING

Commercial Bank and Savings Co .- The American National Bank-The First National Bank- The City Banking Co .- The Buckeye National Bank.

The Commercial Bank & Savings Com- pany located at Findlay, Ohio, was incor- porated November 10, 1900, under the act of February, 1873, with an authorized cap- ital of $80,000, and commenced business February 20, 1901, the incorporators being Messrs. John B. Heimhofer, W. A. B. Dal- zell, Cloyd Marvin, E. C. Taylor, F. H. Griffith and Richard W. Boyd. As the name indicates, this bank was chartered by the State of Ohio to do both commercial and savings banking, and from its opening date has conducted both a commercial and savings business with far greater success than was anticipated by the most optimistic stockholders.

In view of the rapid and uninterrupted growth of business from the date of open- ing, and anticipating still greater expansion in, and volume of business the stockholders on March 4th, 1904, increased the author- ized Capital Stock to $100,000, the increase being placed with some of the wealthiest men in the community, thereby increasing the number of stockholders to sixty; whose combined financial responsibility is con-

servatively estimated at Three Millions of Dollars.

The Commercial Bank & Savings Com- pany occupies superbly equipped banking rooms in its building, a splendid example of the most modern type of individual bank building and an ornament to the architec- ture of the city, located at 335 South Main Street, being the only bank on the east side of said street. Thus it is assured of a cen- tral, convenient and permanent location on the city's main thoroughfare, where prop- erty is constantly increasing in value. From its opening date the institution has con- stantly enjoyed the confidence of the city's leading merchants, manufacturers and citi- zens generally, of whom a large number are among its depositors; in fact the manage- ment is of a character and the results shown are of a kind that commands the respect and confidence of all, and it is entirely safe to say that there is not a more popular bank in Findlay.

This bank was the pioneer in Saturday night opening and has continued the prac- tice from its opening date with the satis-

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faction to its management of knowing that its efforts to please have been appreciated by the business public. The policy of this bank always has been and is to maintain at all times a strong cash reserve and invest its funds in municipal bonds, farm mort- gages, and other securities easily con- vertable.

According to its report to the State De- partment of Banks and Banking under date of September Ist, 1909, the Commercial Bank & Savings Company had at that time resources amounting to $677,475.84, of which $149,559.76 was in the form of cash and due from other banks; $139,272.44 was represented by municipal and other bonds; its loans and investments amounted to $367,643.64, and its banking house furniture and fixtures $21,000.00.

Upon the side of liabilities the report shows a grand total of deposits amounting to $609,763.34.

The Capital Stock paid in amounting to $50,000.00 and surplus and profits reach $17,712.50.

The bank is a depository of the State of Ohio and City of Findlay. ·

The officers and directors of the bank are identified with some of the most important interests of the city. They are: E. C. Taylor, president ; John B. Heimhofer, vice- president; C. J. Oller, cashier ; and Chas. H. Bigelow, secretary and treasurer. The directors : E. C. Taylor, John B. Heimhofer, Peter J. Poole, W. J. Frey, N. W. Cunning- ham, Dr. N. L. MacLachlan and C. J. Oller.

an enviable record since then. One of the leading promoters of this bank was the late Judge Jacob F. Burket, who was its first president, and continued in that capacity until the time of his death in 1906. His good judgment and advice were of material assistance to the cashier and manager, Mr. L. W. Eoff, and are reflected in the un- broken record of prosperity and success that the institution has enjoyed since its organi- zation.

The policy of the management has always been conservative and safe, and yet by tact and good judgment, a reputation for liberal treatment of the public has always been maintained. Accounts opened at the Ameri- can National Bank are seldom changed as customers always get all the accommoda- tions that they are reasonably entitled to. The general standing of the bank in Northern Ohio is very high and it is one of the strongest financial concerns in this section.

The Capital Stock of the bank is one hundred thousand dollars and total re- sources one million dollars. In addition to accumulating a substantial surplus fund, over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of profits have been paid to the stock- holders. The management of the bank is . progressive, intelligent and careful, being safe at all times. A well equipped savings department is maintained, offering the facili- ties of a regular savings bank. The bank has a fine burglar and fire proof vault, and has safety deposit boxes to rent.

The American National Bank .- Promi- Drafts on all parts of the world are issued and steam-ship tickets and travelers cheques sold. The officers of the institution stand nent among the financial institutions of Findlay is the American National Bank, which was organized in 1887, and has had high in the business life of Findlay, and are

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as follows: President, Harlan F. Burket; Vice-President, C. L. Casterline; Cashier, L. W. Eoff; Assistant Cashier, A. E. Eoff. The officers with W. S. Parker and Reginald Burket, compose the Board of Directors.

The First National Bank .- Findlay is noted as a city of progress and safe institu- tions, but of all these none stand more high in the regard of the community at large throughout this section of Ohio than "the old bank"-the First National. No other bank in Northwestern Ohio, outside of the city of Toledo, has ever exceeded the million mark in total assets. This is a record with which no other financial institution in the city can compare.

The costly improvements recently made in the banking room and still in course of con- struction are a source of universal com- ment, and once again brings the bank to the fore as having the finest bank furniture of any bank in Northwestern Ohio, excepting one. This new furniture is complete throughout. It is of the most modern de- sign, made of golden oak quarter-sawed and solid brass, together with plate glass and marble. The business transactions of the in- stitution are transacted in what is really a very elaborate cage, there being a woven brass roof to the department of the cashier. An innovation in Findlay Banks, is a special room luxuriously appointed for the use of ladies separating them from the regular run of customers.

The First National was founded in June, 1863, with E. P. Jones as president; and Charles E. Niles cashier. The directors have been James A. Bope, Jacob F. Burket, R. B. Hurd, Henry Brown, H. P. Gage, James H. Wilson, George W. Kimmel, C. P. Jones,

Anson Hurd, W. H. Wheeler, M. E. Jones, C. F. M. Niles, C. F. Jones, and James A. Blair, the latter now a millionaire banker in New York City.

Mr. Jones was formerly clerk in the post- office at Sandusky and later was appointed agent of the Mad River railroad in Findlay, a position which he filled for many years, and at the same time was engaged exten- sively in the grain business. He was a nat- ural financier and his keen business ability brought him rapidly to the front.

Mr. Niles received his first banking educa- tion in 1852 in the State Bank of Ohio at Ashtabula, commencing at the ground floor at the foot of the ladder, he has worked his way up until he is considered one of the solid and level-headed bankers of Ohio. He has filled the positions of vice-president and president of the Ohio Bankers' Association and has held many responsible fiduciary offices during the past forty years.

Mr. E. P. Jones's death in 1894 caused the first change in the officers of the bank since it had been founded thirty years before. Mr. Niles succeeded to the presidency and George P. Jones, son of the bank's first president, became its cashier, a place that he has ably filled. Mr. Jones received his education primarily at Eastman's Business College, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., but for over ten years before assuming the position of cashier he rubbed elbows with his father and Mr. Niles, two of the finest financiers in Ohio, and from them gained an invaluable knowledge of the banking business. Both Mr. Niles and Mr. Jones continue in active service in the bank, none of the employes of the institution putting in more arduous hours then they.

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The first furniture was that just recently succeeded by the handsome new equipment. It was of massive black walnut and plate glass and was one of the sights of the town for many years.

The bank is just beginning the third period of its long career. From 1863 to 1892, the first period, the bank issued no higher than $5 bills; in the second period, to 1902, $5, $10 and $20 were issued; and now the bank is issuing its banknotes for $50 and $100. One of the interesting relics of the institution is the old ledger, with which business was first opened in 1863. The capital stock of this bank, paid up, is $150,000; surplus and undivided profits, $31, 100; and individual deposits $874,500.

The same course that has been pursued for forty years is still the guiding star of the bank and it is bearing it ever upward and onward. The First National is always safe, always conservative and is the largest and strongest bank, not only in Findlay but, with the single exception of Toledo, in all this part of Ohio.

The City Banking Company was incorpo- rated November 6, 1897, and commenced busi- ness, December 4, 1897. It succeeded to the business of the City Bank of Findlay, a private bank organized by Peter Hosler and associates on May 1, 1887, which bank has held an hon- orable position in the financial affairs of Find- lay during the entire term of its existence. Mr. N. M. Adams, the president (also treasurer of the Adams Bros. Company), is a man of large experience in business and is thoroughly in touch with the business world. Mr. D. H. Heistand, vice-president, is a man of large means, a successful oil producer and a progres- sive business man. W. F. Hosler, the cashier,

has been identified with the banking interests of Findlay for the past twenty years and by diligence, prudence and square dealing has built up an enviable reputation. The paid-up capital stock of this bank is $55,000 and the individual deposits amount to $468,000.

The Buckeye National Bank .- The Farm- ers' National Bank of Findlay, Ohio, was or- ganized under charter No. 3477 bearing date of March 30, 1886. This bank was merged into the Buckeye National Bank in January, 1904, since which time its growth has been most gratifying to its patrons, stockholders, and officers; its deposits have increased from $424,000.00 in 1904, to over $1,250,000.00 in January, 1909, making a gain of over $150,- 000.00 per year. The officers of the Buckeye National Bank feel more than grateful to their many friends for this magnificent growth. The Buckeye National Bank stands for solidity, soundness, and strength over Hancock County and all Northwestern Ohio. It is the leading monetary institution of Hancock County, and one of the strongest banks in the State.

The resources and strength of the Buckeye National Bank lie directly or indirectly in the holdings of its several stockholders, their pos- sessions in reality amounting to many thousand acres of valuable lands. They are the controll- ing spirit in different national and private banks; this bank has the proud distinction of having two millionaires numbered among its stockholders. Few banks in Ohio can say as much. Many of our leading merchants, farm- ers, manufacturers and business men use this bank as their bank; its officers and directors keep in close touch with current financial is- sues, always holding a conservative hand on booms and movements speculative in their ten- dency. The Savings Department is fully

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equipped and up-to-date in every particular, a Higbie. The following was the bank's state- place where every man, woman and child in ment for June 30, 1910:

Hancock County is cordially invited to deposit their savings with confidence and security.

The bank has fitted two rooms in the rear for the private use of its patrons where all are made welcome and everybody invited to take his friend or friends for private business or consultation, where stationery is found upon its desk and everybody invited to help them- selves. The officers at the present writing are : W. W. Edwards, president; David T. Davis, vice-president; W. J. Creighton, chairman of board; Ralph W. Moore, cashier; C. W. Shire- man, assistant cashier; J. C. Spencer, assistant cashier; F. P. Blackford, A. L. Stephenson and P. W. Ewing, directors.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 31

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1189

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189