History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 57

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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Jannes Mathers

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

started a tan-yard on South Third Street, west side, which they carried on sev- eral years. It was then purchased by Robert G. Mossman, and after a few years' operation turned over to James W. Christy and Joseph Walker, who took charge of it. About 1844 R. S. Huling got possession, and conducted a very successful business for many years. During the most prosperous times he turned out 1,000 hides annually.

In 1866 Hubbard & Co. started a steam tannery on the west side, near the dam, but it did not prove successful under their management. William Achre and John Allison purchased the property in 1867, and afterward leased it to John A. Dufer. It was finally burned down, and never rebuilt.

Marshall Bond ran a third tannery for some time on the east side, but it, too, was finally abandoned as an unprofitable enterprise. *

BANKS.

The first banking institution in Greenville was opened about the year 1850, by James R. Wick, who conducted a private brokerage business. In 1856 he was succeeded in this by Achre, Wick & Co., the first firm to begin a regular banking business in the county. Its members were William Achre, A. L. Wick and George A. Bittenbanner. The business was located in the sec- ond story of a building situated on the spot where the First National Bank now stands. In the year 1859 the present building of the Greenville National Bank was erected by this firm, and used by them until April, 1875, when Will- iam H. Beil and George O. Keck were admitted. William Achre purchased the interests of Mr. Bittenbanner and Mr. Wick. and the institution was chartered under the name of the "Greenville National Bank." The capital stock of the old bank had been $25,000, which was amply sufficient at the time, although a large and profitable business was carried on; but under the new name this was increased to $110,000. The first officers were William Achre, president; William H. Beil, cashier, and George O. Keck, assistant cashier. The bank at present is in good condition, having a capital stock of $90,000, a surplus of $8,000 and deposits amounting to upward of $80,000. Its business, while local, is good, and the institution is credited with the confidence of its patrons. The present officers are A. F. Henlein, president; William H. Beil, cashier, and Harry Watson, assistant cashier.

The First National Bank was chartered in 1864, under the corporate name of the First National Bank of West Greenville, and began operations with a capital stock of $60,000. One year later this was increased to $100,000, and five years thereafter to the present amount, $125,000. The prefix "West" was dropped at the same time the name of the borough was changed. The building in which the bank first commenced business was a brick structure on Main Street, the dwelling of its first president, Samuel P. Johnston. Subse- quently the room occupied by Brittain & Johnston was secured, and the busi- ness of the bank was conducted therein until 1876, when the building was destroyed by fire, and the present quarters, costing $14,000, erected. The present officers of the institution are: President, Marvin Loomis, elected in 1888 to succeed Hon. William Waugh, who served from 1875; vice president, Robert S. Johnston; cashier, Calvin R. Beatty. The general history of the bank's operations has been one of gradual enlargement and growth. There have been no serious reverses, and the condition of the establishment to-day is best evidenced by the fact that it has a reserve fund of $35,000, and that its deposits amount to over $150,000. Under the name of First National Bank of Greenville it was re-chartered in 1884 for a period of twenty years.

*For iron interests see Chapter VI.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, AND BOARD OF TRADE.

The Greenville Building and Loan Association was incorporated October 13, 1873, with a capital stock of $400,000, and with a purpose, as expressed in the charter, "for the accumulation of a fund by the saving of its members, to assist them individually to purchase real estate, erect houses, satisfy mort- gages, or invest in such other manner as shall be most advantageous." The members of the new association were C. R. Beatty, D. C. Moyer, E. F. Ben- nett, Thomas C. Gibson, W. P. Leech, J. J. Hutcheson, F. Herrick, William Achre, David Hum, A. Burnett, L. L. Keck, William Waugh, H. K. Reiss, W. L. Fleming, W. A. Vaughn and William Paden. The first officers of the asso- ciation were: J. J. Hutcheson, president; T. C. Gibson, vice-president; C. R. Beatty, treasurer; W. L. Fleming, secretary; directors: A. Burnett, William Achre, William Paden, D. C. Moyer, L. L. Keck, William Waugh, W. A. Vaughn, F. Herrick and David Hum. Mr. Hum became secretary in 1874, and filled that office until the association wound up its business in July, 1882.

The Board of Trade was incorporated May 31, 1887, with a purpose, as expressed in the charter, of "assisting in building up the business of the borough of Greenville in all legitimate ways, by leasing lands, drilling for gas, oil and other minerals, assisting those who may desire to locate in said borough, inviting manufacturers to locate their works in or near it," and, in general, watching over the city's commercial interests. The capital stock of the board was $4,050, divided into 162 shares of the par value of $25 each. The managers elected for the first year were: A. F. Henlein, president; R. S. Johnston, secretary and treasurer; G. G. Stage, William Paden, T. C. Gib- son, James F. Mathers and E. P. Gillespie.

GAS AND WATER COMPANIES.

The Greenville Gas Company was organized in 1877, and works were built in the same year. Among the originators of the enterprise were: J. H. Miller, Frederick Girebell, Judge William Maxwell, A. L. Wick, William Achre, C. R. Beatty and others. The capital stock was $25,000. Eleven re- torts were secured, and the company now has a capacity of 20,000 feet per day. Over five miles of pipe are laid, supplying nearly 300 consumers, and fifty-nine lamps furnish light to the borough. The product is coal gas, which, by the introduction of an exhauster and condenser into the establishment, has been greatly improved in quality. The present officers of the company are: C. R. Wray, president; E. S. Templeton, secretary; H. N. Shrom, treasurer and general manager; directors: C. R. Wray, M. H. Hamlin, A. F. Henlein, Marvin Loomis, John R. Packard, H. C. Hoomer and E. S. Templeton.

The Greenville Natural Gas Co. was incorporated the 6th of November, 1886, with a capital stock of $50,000, divided into 1,000 shares of the par value of $50 each. The shareholders were Peter L. Kimberly, Mary L. Packard, Edwin S. Templeton, W. P. Leech, G. B. Chase, Robert S. Hender- son, John R. Packard, James W. Vaughn, Tillotson Bros., Carl Buck and John J. Hutcheson. The directors were John R. Packard, James W. Vaughn, Robert S. Henderson, Peter L. Kimberly and J. J. Hutcheson. The purpose of the company was to rent a gas privilege from the Columbia Gas Co., and thereby supply the borough with natural gas. In execution of this project the city was underlaid with pipes, and arrangements perfected for the introduction of the new fuel into Greenville homes. When the time came for the Columbia Company to fulfill its part of the contract, it was found that that company would not fulfill its contract. It was afterward absorbed by the Standard Company, which also refused to assume the obligation. Suit was

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

brought by the Greenville Company, and this has recently been settled, but natural gas has not been obtained for the borough.

The Greenville Water Co. was incorporated the 17th of November, 1883, with a capital stock of $84,000, divided into 1,680 shares of $50 each. The stockholders were James Sheakley, J. T. Blair, A. J. Haws, A. R. Davis, Forbes Holton, Chambers Templeton and D. H. Wallace. The first directors were: J. T. Blair, A. J. Haws, Forbes Holton, James Sheakley and Cham- bers Templeton. The purpose of the company is to supply the borough with water. The reservoir is conveniently located about a mile east of the city, and will hold about 8,000,000 gallons of water. The water is secured from springs, and the company has four and one-half miles of mains inside the town limits and thirty-three fire plugs. S. R. Cochran is superintendent, and Thomas Stone, assistant .*

LOCAL INSURANCE COMPANIES.

The Pymatuning Mutual Fire Insurance Co. was chartered February 27, 1860, with the following charter members: Nathan Morford, Jesse Fell, David Kamerer, S. M. Loveland, S. Wortman, Peter Reichard, Joseph Hause, John Adams, Charles Bortz, Peter Rickert, Jr., Daniel Bortz, Andrew Busch, W. H. Clark, Aaron Blank, F. J. Bean, Jacob Klingensmith, Abraham Lud- wig, Cephas Comstock, Peter Pauly, John Durst, Robert Mckean and H. George. The first president was Peter Rickert, Jr., A. Ludwig, treasurer, and David Kamerer, secretary. The latter held the secretaryship until January 21, 1887, when he was succeeded by his son, D. L. Kamerer. This company carries over $3,500,000 of insurance.

The Keystone Mutual Storm Insurance Company was chartered August 6, 1888, by D. L. Kamerer, J. A. Kunkleman, D. D., C. J. Achre, John P. Derr, S. H. North, James C. Brown, John Perkins, P. H. Doyle, Samuel Busch and Reuben Baker. The officers are: John Perkins, president; D. L. Kamerer, secretary; John P. Derr, treasurer; John Perkins, D. L. Kamerer, S. H. North, P. H. Doyle and Samuel Busch, directors. It commenced busi- ness with 262 members, and an insurance of $220,000.

FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

The first effort made by the borough toward organizing a fire department was in 1840, when a small engine was purchased and paid for by general subscrip- tion. An engine house was afterward built, and a few fire ladders added to the apparatus. This engine was used ten or twelve years, and finally sold in 1854. It was often manned by the leading citizens of the borough, and was no doubt a wonder to the youth of the town. Another hand engine was subsequently purchased in the fall of 1866, and up to 1880 the apparatus of the depart- ment consisted of this engine and general apparatus of hose, hooks, ladders, etc. The company, a volunteer one, numbered ninety members, who, upon the alarm of fire, would valiantly rush to the rescue of life and property, fighting the lurid element with what means they had, but, owing to the lack of hose and other apparatus, the results were very unsatisfactory. In 1880, however, the borough procured a new outfit, and the present department was accordingly organized. It, too, is a volunteer service, the chief being elected by the members of the company. The appliances of the new company consist of one Silsby steamer, 2,000 feet of improved hose and three hose carts. The fire plugs of the water works, thirty-three in number, furnish abundant water. The department is made up as follows: Chief, Plimpton Leech; first assistant chief, W. F. Braden; second assistant chief, D. F. Hum, Jr .; secre- tary, William A. Pearce; treasurer, J. L. Caldwell. The divisions consist of

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

three companies, each comprising thirty men, named, respectively, D. P. Pack- ard Hose Co., No. 1, Citizens' Hose Co., No. 2, and T. C. Gibson Hose Co., No. 3.

Destructive Fires-On Tuesday night, January 21, 1871, commencing at 12 o'clock, occurred the heaviest fire Greenville had ever encountered to that time. It began in a three-story wooden structure, Laird's Block, on Main and Race Streets. It spread along the street consuming property to the value of $44,000. The heavy losers were William Laird, $5,000; R. & A. Man- heimer, $4,500; Harlan Book, $5,500; Eli Wasser, $300; S. P. Johnston, $6,000; Kasper Reichard, $1,500; Dr. David Edgar, $2,500; E. Miller, $100; William Keck, $600; John B. Smith, $300; Samuel West, $150; Benjamin Henlein, $6,000; S. W. Manheimer, $4,000; Mrs. Gilkison, $1,000; Dr. R. N. Hayes, $100; Mound Chapter A. Y. M., $800; Eureka Lodge A. Y. M., $500; Seth Hull, $2,500; A. D. Gillespie, $100; J. E. Hull & Sons, $2,000; E. Rooney, $500; W. T. Phelan, $400; E. Kyle, $100.

The fire of 1873 was the Chicago conflagration of the town. It broke out on the night of January 15, in a building the first floor of which was occu- pied by T. J. Brundage, and the second by the Misses Durst. It is con- jectured by some that an incendiary was the cause, but the question still hangs in doubt. The burned district embraced about 300x120 feet on the south side of Main Street, and the same extent north side of Main. Everything on Main, between Canal and Mercer, except Achre, Wick & Co's. banking house, Achre & Bright's wholesale grocery and the Merchants' Block, owned by William Achre, was consumed. The total loss was thirty-five buildings, including twenty-two stores and shops, six dwellings, one hotel, one office and five barns. In addition there were some six dwellings on the second floor of business rooms. The aggregate loss was $83,000; insurance, $50,000, leaving a net loss of $33,000. The losses were distributed as follows: Will- iam Achre, wholesale grocery and Merchants' Block, $3,500; J. E. Hamlin's drug store, occupied by M. C. Roberts, $3,000; M. C. Roberts, drug stock, $1,700; W. B. Pearson, photographer, $1,700; B. Grim & Son, building and stock, $2,500; Simon Donner, building, $2,500; T. J. Brundage, stock, $4,500: Misses Durst, $800; J. & A. Stinson's building and stock, $2,000; O. A. Carlin, express agent, $700; J. H. Becker, building, $2,000; George Becker, stock, $1,000; Tillotson Bros., building and stock, $6,000; Mrs. E. Connolly, building, $2,000; Jonathan Hottle, St. Charles Hotel, $2,500: Hugh Montgomery, furniture, $2,000; Thomas Callen, building, $2,000; A. L. Wick, building, $1,000; Miss Breckenridge, building, $2,000; John Ramsey, dwelling, $100; Henry Grauel, shop, $300; Vance Stewart, $300; Breiner heirs, $1,225; Aaron Saul, stock, $208; J. C. Brown, assessor, $100; Mrs. Hoge, furniture, $800; William Weimer, building, $1,500; J. E. Millhouse, building, $2,132; Hamlin's estate, three buildings, $5,000; John Keck, building, $2,000; Philip Frederick, household goods, $300; Dr. S. M. Ross, office, $100; Henry Keck, goods, $4,000; C. Seig- fried. building, $2,500; C. W. Rolls, stock, $100; Dickey & Boies, shop, $3,000; S. C. Dickey, dwelling, $2,400; S. L. Hendrickson, house, $600; J. E. Hull, $3,000; Presbyterian Church, $195: Mrs. E. Boies, house, $1,000; William McMillen, barn, $500; Dr. D. B. Packard, stable, $300; Achre, Wick & Co., banking house, $100. Besides there were other losses aggregating several thousand dollars.

Another destructive fire occurred on the 28th of August, 1874, consuming the Henlein Block, and entailing a loss of $30,000. On the 2d of April, 1875, the devouring flames consumed Batteiger's brewery and the Exchange Hotel.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

The last named structure was one of the time honored and popular institutions of the place. The fire fiend seemed to be unsatisfied until he had, on the 2d of March, 1876, swept away the Greenville Woolen Mills, owned by the Til- lotson Brothers, C. R. Brown and W. J. McCray. The property was wholly destroyed. It likewise swept away the flouring-mill of James Mathers & Sons, N. C. Packard's hotel, and a dwelling belonging to William Keck's heirs.

BRIDGES.

The town is furnished with four iron bridges. The one over the She- nango, uniting East and West Greenville, was built in the fall of 1876 by the Massillon Bridge Company. It supplanted a lighter iron structure pre- viously erected, which was found unable to bear the heavy travel, and was removed to the crossing over the Little Shenango, on the Jamestown road, near the cemetery. It is 108 feet long, with double roadways and sidewalks, and is one of the finest bridges in the county. The first bridge that spanned the Shenango at the same place was a plain country bridge, and was built early in the present century. In 1832 it was torn down, and a more substantial cov- ered bridge commenced. Joseph Leech was the contractor, and Simon Snyder the carpenter, on the second bridge. It was one of the best wooden bridges in Mercer County, and did splendid service for thirty-two years. In 1864 it was supplanted by another wooden structure, built by Breckinridge & Co .; James C. Brown and the late James Mathers built the abutments. The old bridge was purchased and removed by Mr. Brown. Besides the iron bridge on the Jamestown road there is also one at the north end of Race Street, and another near Stinson's mill on the Meadville road, both spanning the Little Shenango.

RAILROADS.

Greenville has been for years one of the railroad centers of the county. Its main line is the Erie road, a first-class east and west trunk line. It was first a broad gauge and known as the Atlantic & Great Western. It was sub- sequently changed to the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio (Nypano), then to the New York, Lake Erie & Western, and finally to its present title.

The Erie & Pittsburgh, under the control of the Pennsylvania Company, is an efficient north and south line. The Pittsburgh, Shenango & Lake Erie, formerly the Shenango & Allegheny, is also a north and south line. Until recently Greenville was its northern terminus. Under the reorganization the road has been extended from Greenville to Amasa Crossing, a station on the Jamestown & Franklin branch of the Lake Shore Road. The first passenger train from the new station on Main Street was drawn out on Monday, July 24, 1888. The extension of the road adds much to its efficiency and greatly to the convenience and satisfaction of the people, reflecting great credit upon the officials concerned in the enterprise. It is the intention of the managers to extend the road to the lake in the near future.

NAME CHANGED TO GREENVILLE.

From the time the town was first laid out by Lodge, Probst & Walker up to November 22, 1865, it bore the name of West Greenville, and during this period of more than half a century no effort was made to do away with the useless prefix. The following communication from one of Greenville's prominent citizens tells when and how the change was finally effected:

LAKEWOOD, N. Y., September 5, 1888.

R. C. BROWN. EsQ .- Dear Sir: Yours of Saturday received. When I begun business in West Greenville in 1854, having moved there from Ohio, I, in common with all the

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

citizens spoken to on the subject, were of the belief that another place in our State had the name of "Greenville P. O.," and hence the prefix to the name of our borough and post-office remained unaltered. Having carried this burdensome prefix along in the large and growing business of our town, I began to investigate, and, if possible, adopt means to cut it off. This was in the fall of 1865. In consultation with William Keck, then postmaster, we discovered that "Greenville P. O." had never been adopted by any of the several cross-roads and hamlets of that name in Indiana, Clarion, Montgomery and other counties in Eastern Pennsylvania. I carried a petition among our citizens asking the department to change the name of the post-office from "West Greenville" to "Greenville." The petition met with a unanimous and hearty endorsement, and without any red tape or delay the change was made. The time tables of the railroad at once gladly adopted the change. Thus have we saved several barrels of ink and much nerve power in doing away with an exasperating and useless prefix, and only wonder now that we were so slow in consummating this really important event in our local history. Yours truly,

JOHN R. PACKARD.

The name of the borough was, on petition, soon afterward changed, by order of the court at Mercer, from "West Greenville" to "Greenville," to harmonize with the name of the post-office.

EFFORT TO OBTAIN THE COUNTY SEAT.

No other event in the local history of the town excited a deeper or more wide-spread interest than the determined effort made by its citizens to remove the county seat from Mercer to Greenville. In fact, it aroused the people in every part of the county for and against the measure. John R. Packard, Esq., of Greenville, has kindly furnished us with the following pithy account of this important event:

"During the autumn of 1865 a number of enterprising citizens of Green- ville conceived the idea of making an effort to change the county seat from Mercer to their own town. Greenville was then, as now, a railroad center of considerable importance, while Mercer, at that time, was an inland borough, without railroad or even canal communications. The Erie & Pittsburgh Rail- road, passing through Greenville, traverses the entire length of the county, north and south, through the prosperous valley of Shenango, teeming with manufactures representing large wealth and a preponderance of the commerce of the county. The old Atlantic & Great Western Railroad (now the Erie), had also been completed, and the northern and eastern portion of Mercer County was then, as now, traversed by the Jamestown & Franklin Railroad, a feeder to the Erie & Pittsburgh road at Jamestown, and running only two and one-quarter miles distant from Greenville.

" With these facilities it was believed that a larger number of the citizens of the county would be accommodated doing business at the county seat, there- by justifying the proposed removal. The location of Greenville, in one corner of the county, argued against the scheme, while on the other hand its friends contended that steam quite annihilated space, and were therefore earnest and determined in forcing the conflict. Enthusiastic meetings were held at Green- ville and elsewhere in the interest of the proposed change, and a considerable sum of money pledged to carry on the fight. A vigorous petition to the Leg- islature was prepared by a committee, of which Hon. William Waugh was chairman, reciting the advantages to the public at large by having the county seat at Greenville. Printed copies were circulated and numerously signed throughout the towns and villages friendly to the enterprise, exciting alarm and organized resistance at Mercer. John R. Packard was sent to the capital at Harrisburgh, at the opening of the Legislature, to begin the preliminary skirmish on behalf of Greenville. He met there, by appointment, the late Hon. David Derrickson, of Meadville, then a property owner at Greenville,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

who prepared a bill, asking the Legislature to authorize the citizens of Mer- cer County to vote on the proposed change of county seat.

" Discussions over the project filled the local press for several months. A new court-house was an imperative necessity, and this seemed an opportune time to secure another site, if ever. Mercer in due time waked up and began their defense with surprising emphasis. The late Hon. Arcus McDermitt and other residents of Mercer were dispatched to the capital determined to leave no stone unturned to defeat their rival. The senator from Lawrence County was appointed chairman of the committee on county seats, and after some weeks of deliberation and delay reported the bill adversely, followed swiftly by the destruction of the old court-house by fire, the smoke yet ascending from the ruins when the present fine structure was contracted for. The citizens of " the Athens of Western Pennsylvania " made an honorable defense, won the fight, and have the seat of justice permanently anchored there.

"F. H. Braggins, editor of the Greenville Argus, dramatized the incidents attending the conflagration, and the play, entitled "Burning of the Court House," introducing leading characters of Mercer in their grotesque and du- bious efforts to save the building, was given on the stage in Packard Hall with great eclat."

GROWTH AND APPEARANCE.

According to the petition presented to the court in December, 1836, ask- ing that the town be incorporated, Greenville had then a population of 495. It doubled its population in the next decade, the census of 1850 giving it 1,036 inhabitants. It only gained sixty-five in the next ten years, having 1,101 in 1860. In 1870 it had 1,848, and in 1880, 3007, while its present estimated population is between 4,000 and 5,000. Thus it will be seen that although its growth has never been rapid the increase in population has always been substantial.

The general appearance of the borough is very prepossessing. Its streets are wide, well built and finely shaded, and it can boast of many very handsome residences. The several destructive fires that swept over the town from 1871 to 1875 have proved a blessing to it, as the clean, solid and substantial appear- ance of Main Street fully attests. Few towns of its size have so many modern, well-built business blocks, and such substantial church and school buildings, and its citizens have just reason to be proud of their beautiful and prosperous little borough.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 57

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288