USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 50
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Fire on the night of May 10, 1859, destroyed all the buildings
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on both sides of Ferry street from Ceape to Washington and Algoma streets, including the main business section. "Within six months the district was entirely rebuilt and the recuperative force of the city excited comment," says Harney, "and estab- lished the fact of the great strength of its resources and ex- pansive power."
On October 13 of the same year the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was extended from Fond du Lac to Oshkosh and this marked another "boom" period, the results of which were all conserved in solid growth. A disastrous fire occurred in May of 1861, confined to the south side, but in a few months the work of rebuilding left no trace of the blaze. During the re- mainder of the Civil war period Oshkosh was fortunate in its commercial growth, but in 1866 once more in May fire swept the central portion of the city almost where it had gone in 1859. Not disheartened, the citizens went about rebuilding and by the end of the year substantial brick structures stood on the ashes of frame stores and offices.
At this period there were about thirty sawmills in the city, and for several years the cut of logs ranged from 150.000,000 to 200,000,000 feet. All the mills which were destroyed by fire were immediately replaced, for the lumber business was never so good. The average capacity of these mills is believed to have been 20,000 feet of lumber each day, while a record of 50,000 feet was made in 1868 by one. The season averaged 200 days, and in the winter the mill hands went out into the woods to "log it."
Failures were uncommon, as indeed they have always been. in Oshkosh. Lumber commanded a high price and was not expensive to market.
Fires came again in 1874 and 1875, just after the city had received a further impetus growing out of the opening in 1871 of the Oshkosh & Mississippi railroad to Ripon through a fertile and well settled country. These two fires succeeded in de- vastating nearly all the business portion of Oshkosh and many entire streets of residences. The establishment of many new mills and sash and door factories had resulted in the building of numerous fine homes, all of which were replaced after the different fires. While the damage seemed the greater because the city was at the full tide of prosperity, that very fact en- abled the work of rehabilitation to go forward rapidly time and again. The fire of 1875 was regarded as a turning point in
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the history of the city, and the quick recovery from the shock and heavy loss ($2,500,000) was looked upon as a good omen for the future-which, indeed, has been well fulfilled.
From that time on the city has grown steadily and uninter- ruptedly without hindrance from fire or appreciable delay at any period of so-called "hard times." Among the various mills and factories established more firmly after the last great fire were those of Jones & Foster (now the Foster-Lothman mills), Radford Brothers, Morgan Brothers, C. N. Paine & Co., William- son & Libbey, who remained in business until 1906, and James P. Gould. The Gould interests are now under the name of the Gould Manufacturing Company. E. N. and George Conlee and Orville Beach were associated with Captain Jenkins for some time in a mill on the site of the present Chicago & Northwestern freight depot. In the eighties John Banderob's furniture shop was enlarged into a factory by the formation of a partnership between its owner and C. C. Chase. The Buckstaff-Edwards Company was a contemporary. The Schmit Brothers Trunk Company was organized in 1873 and was then one of the largest firms in the city outside of the lumber business. In 1879 the firm of Parsons, Neville & Co. established a carriage works, re- moving to Oshkosh from Chicago.
Harney notes as one of the features of the year 1879 the float- ing of a grist mill on barges from Winneconne to Oshkosh, probably one of the few instances of so large a building being moved in this manner.
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The ensuing period of growth was, of course, marked by changes here and there. most of them for the better. The addi- tions to the industrial field, the retirement of one and another of the pioneers, make too long a list for this narrative. In the period of twenty years up to 1900 the names of C'hoate. Hol- lister. Paine, Doughty, Jenkins, Morgan. Libbey, Gould, MeMil- len, Radford. Foster, Beach, Buckstaff, Sawyer, Bray, Clark and Streich were only among the many identified with the de- velopment of the city into a notable manufacturing center as well as an important factor in state and national polities.
It was in the time between 1870 and 1880 that the greatest advances were made in the improvement of the upper Wolf river through the medium of dams and blasting operations. so that as the timber line was forced farther north the river still might serve the purpose of the loggers for the driving of the
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timber to Oshkosh. These improvements are still being carried on, and at last some of the waterpowers along the upper Wolf are in prospect of development for the benefit of the surround- ing regions. One of the largest projects is one involving a large sum to be invested in transportation of electric power from the lower rapids of the Little Wolf river, less than fifty miles to the city of Oshkosh, and the plan at the time of going to press is to utilize all the power for factories yet to be built in the district west of the river between West Algoma and Wisconsin avenue. In this gigantic plan a number of the best known men of the community are interested. . # #
This work would be incomplete without a tribute to the solidity of Oshkosh commercial institutions and the stability of its business men. When the money panic of October, 1907, forced nearly every bank in the United States to suspend specie payment and sent firm after firm to the wall, putting thousands of men out of work, Oshkosh set the example for the Fox river valley by laughing at the panic and continuing to pay in cash, with proper safeguards against the removal of the money from this district. As a result of the policy adopted by the financial and business community the city came unscathed through the stringency of the winter following, and conditions at the present time are exceptionally good.
The Present Outlook.
At present the lumber industry in Oshkosh is flourishing, and there is little doubt that it will continue to be the principal feature of commercial Oshkosh for a long period of years. The manufacture of the raw material has been confined so far in this home city of logs, planks, sash and doors that now every con- ceivable product of the wood is made in Oshkosh.
The Paine Lumber Company, Limited, the largest concern of its kind in the world. owns a large tract of land bordering the Fox river on both sides where the river leaves Lake Butte des Morts. On the north side are the sawmill, which with its im- proved machinery is said to have a capacity of nearly a half million feet of lumber daily. and the factory proper, which for many years has held undisputed the distinction of being the largest sash and door factory on earth. Adjoining these are the incidental buildings and the extensive yards. On the south
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
bank is the veneer mill, a notable plant of its character. The Paine company is said to employ in an average season more than 1,800 workers in its local plant, its winter logging camps and its branch offices, which latter are scattered over the globe. This is regarded as a conservative estimate and it indicates the magnitude to which the industry has grown. Officers of the company, which is capitalized at $500,000, are as follows : Presi- dent, Col. George M. Paine; secretary, Nathan Paine; treasurer, Charles Nevitt. Edward W. Paine is also associated with the company. For many years John W. Himebaugh was closely as- sociated with the concern as manager and vice-president, until at the time of his death recently he was looked upon as one of the authorities in this line of business.
The Morgan Company, makers of standard doors and win- dows and builders' material, have several plants, the central one being located in Oshkosh, the scene of the foundation of the business. There are several branch offices in different parts of the country. Officers of the company are as follows: President, J. Earl Morgan; vice-president, Enos S. Richmond; secretary and treasurer, R. H. Edwards. The company occupies an im- portant place in the lumber field and is widely known in the market. The plant is located on Oregon street close to the river.
Radford Brothers & Co., with an eventful history behind them, have come through the years with good fortune and are . now prosperous. Besides the usual manufactures the company makes a specialty of hardwood doors. The company consists of Stephen, William and Charles W. Radford, while it is closely affiliated with the Radford Company of Chicago, and has several branches elsewhere. The local mills are on the river front east of Wisconsin avenue.
The McMillen Company, whose plant also fronts on the river between New York and Forest avenues, makes the staple sash and door products. Its officers are the following: President. John George Morris; vice-president, Ernest S. Smith; secretary and treasurer. I. N. IIart.
Hollister, Amos & Co. is the name of the firm of which Col. Seymour W. Hollister is proprietor. Sawmill products are handled almost exclusively by the company itself, while Colonel Hollister has always played an important part in the transporta- tion to the Oshkosh mills of not only his own, but of all the logs from the upper Wolf river. Closely connected with the com- pany is the F. E. Worden Lumber Company, whose warehouse
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MANUFACTURING IN OSHKOSH.
adjoins it on the east. The large Hollister sawmill and yards front on the river at Blackhawk street.
The Gould Manufacturing Company is another of the leading firms making the usual lumber products. Its plant is on the south side of the river at the corner of Tenth street and the line of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. The officers of the company are: President, James P. Gould; secretary, Harry G. Gould; treasurer, George F. Wright.
The Foster-Lothman mills, making sash, doors and allied products, are on the south side of the river a short distance west of the Morgan plant. T. B. Waters, treasurer of the com- pany, is in active charge of the business.
The Campbell & Cameron Company have, in addition to their sawmill and yards, a box factory which uses a large amount of lumber daily. The plant is on the South Side directly opposite the Hollister mill. Officers of the company are: President, D. N. Cameron; vice-president, Robert (. Campbell ; secretary and treasurer, J. D. Campbell.
These eight firms comprise the strictly lumber industry. There are many others in associated lines which will be spoken of in their place.
Today Oshkosh uses more lumber than it ever did, because even the sawdust is manufactured into something useful before it leaves the mills. The total capital invested in these eight plants runs well into the millions, and the value of the rough lumber used by them will aggregate more than $2.000,000 yearly. The value of the finished produce could be estimated only in an indefinite way.
Allied Industries.
It is only a step to other lines in which the logs are further changed and reduced. Oshkosh has three industries-the mak- ing of furniture, caskets and cabinet goods, which are a develop- ment of the early sawmill and the handwork shop.
Among these the Buckstaff-Edwards Company is perhaps most important. The plant is one of the largest in the West and turns out a vast quantity of caskets and casket trimmings and chairs of varied patterns, all made from lumber sawed in the company's private sawmill. This mill was the first in the Fox river valley to be operated by electricity. It has a capacity suf- ficient to supply the Buckstaff-Edwards factory when the latter is operating with a complete crew. The officers: President.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
George A. Buckstaff; vice-president, O. F. Crary, Jr .; secretary, J. H. Donnelly; treasurer. D. C. Buckstaff. The concern is located on South Main street, the yards beginning at Eleventh street.
If the foregoing company is named first, the Banderob-Chase Company surely has a right to the next place. It owns one of the largest furniture factories west of Lake Michigan, making all kinds of furniture. The officers: President, John Banderob; vice-president, Edgar P. Sawyer; secretary and treasurer, C. C. Chase. The plant is on the north side of the river west of the Chicago & Northwestern tracks.
The A. W. Schram & Sons Company make a kind of rocking chair which has become well known. A large building on Marion street east of Light street houses the plant, which is ex- tensive. The officers: President, A. W. Schram; vice-president, W. F. Schram; secretary, A. M. Schram; treasurer, O. H. Schram.
The R. Brand & Sons Company confines itself to bank and saloon fixtures of a high grade. Although suffering a severe loss by fire in the current year, temporary quarters have served for manufacturing and a new building is in prospect. The offi- cers . President, William T. Brand; vice-president. Robert Brand; secretary and treasurer. Carl G. Jensen.
The R. R. Starkweather Company is in similar business, mak- ing interior furniture and stairwork at its Marion street plant, south and east of the Radford properties. The death of the president of the company recently resulted in a slight change of management, the officers now being: President, C. W. Rad- ford; vice-president, Joseph Johanson; secretary, Mrs. R. R. Starkweather.
Logging Tools.
One of the essentials in the production of lumber is the manu- ยท facture of suitable tools for handling the logs. The Oshkosh Logging Tool Company and the Sanford Logging Tool Com- pany occupy together a large new brick building which stands in a conspicuous position at the south end of the Main street bridge. Their pike poles, peavies, cant hooks and larger tools go all over the lumbering world. The Sanford company is the older, its interests having been absorbed largely by the newer corporation. whose officers are: President. Elmer Leach : vice- president. Leander Choate; secretary and treasurer. C. A. Lib- bey. The plant has its own electric sawmill apparatus.
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MANUFACTURING IN OSHKOSH.
A factory which utilizes a great amount of lumber each year is that of the Diamond Match Company, the large combination which has mills in several cities of this country. The new plant in Oshkosh is one of the largest of them all, being in a four- story brick building 600 by 150 feet, entirely fireproof. L. Frank Gates is in charge as local manager. The plant covers the block bounded by High, Osceola, Pearl and Blackhawk streets, and the main building is one of the landmarks of the city. Material for match stems is imported in the form of blocks from distant states.
These firms are probably the largest users of lumber in its various stages. It will be noticed that there are now four saw- mills doing general work of the most up-to-date kind. These belong respectively to the Paine Lumber Company, Hollister, Amos & Co., Radford Brothers & Co. and the Campbell & Cameron Company. There are also two electric sawmills, sup- plying the Buckstaff-Edwards and logging tool factories with material for their own use.
It is a significant fact that while Oshkosh has now but a scant six sawmills, the consumption and manufacture of lumber in the city has increased on account of the larger number of varied industries and the growth of the manufacture of sash and doors.
Not many years ago Oshkosh was known as the "home of sash, door and blind factories." The making of blinds has been rendered almost unnecessary by changes in the style of houses, but the phrase sticks. And in the production of windows and doors alone more men are employed today in using less than 50,000,000 feet of lumber than were needed for the simple saw- ing of 200,000,000 feet forty years ago.
But the extent of Oshkosh mills has not yet been told. There are at least fifty separate manufacturing lines in which com- panies are now engaged, aside from the sawmills and sash and door factories. One hundred and twenty-five different com- panies handle these different lines. I have resorted to John V. Bunn's 1908 City Directory for information concerning these. In fact, the names of officers are all given on the authority of that work.
Trunk Factories.
The making of trunks and bags has become important among the Oshkosh industries. Two large concerns, the Schmit Brothers Trunk Company the Oshkosh Trunk Company, are en- gaged in this business. The Schmit company has an extensive
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
plant on Broad street adjacent to North Park avenue. Its offi- cers are as follows: President, George Bauman; vice-president, J. Howard Jenkins; secretary and general manager, David Law- son; assistant manager, H. R. Minors; treasurer, John Schmit. The factory of the Oshkosh Trunk Company, which has been in the field a shorter length of time, yet has done well, is on High street opposite the end of MeKone avenue. Its officers are: President, Frank Percey; vice-president, N. C. Werbke; secre- tary, George Hilton; treasurer and general manager, C. H. Paxton.
Grass Twine Products.
To the west and south of Oshkosh, in the level plane of the Fox river basin, are wide marshes, apparently usable only as hay- fields. But since grass twine became a commercial material these fields have commanded a high price until today their product is sought after by a half dozen companies. In this con- nection a bit of history is interesting. Not more than ten years ago the American Grass Twine Company, sometimes called the monopoly, was in complete control of the situation, holding tight all the patents covering grass twine machinery and fight- ing every presuming competitor with the most powerful weapons. Leander Choate and Emil H. Steiger, of Oshkosh, with whom were associated F. E. and O. T. Waite, also of this city, under the name of the Oshkosh Grass Matting Company. began the manufacture of similar products under patents which had come into the control of Mr. Steiger. They were defendants for years thereafter in a suit brought by the monopoly for in- fringement of patent, but won their case in one court after another until they secured recognition from the court of last resort. That ended the monopoly of the "American" company and threw the field "wide open." Independent manufacturers began operations at once, there being several in Minnesota as well as in Oshkosh. The main plant of the "American" com- pany, located in Oshkosh, was closed down and is at present idle.
The Oshkosh Grass Matting Company is now in the hands of Messrs. Choate and Steiger. Messrs. Waite have withdrawn from the company and are manufacturing grass twine products under the name of the Waite Grass Carpet Company. incorpo- rated in 1908. The former company has a plant on Wisconsin avenue at the north end of the bridge over Fox river, while the Waites are located in the building formerly occupied by the log-
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ging tool companies at Pearl and Bond streets. F. E. Waite is president and O. T. Waite is secretary-treasurer of the Waite concern.
In a business much like these two is the Oshkosh Bottle Wrap- per Company, which has grown from small proportions to one of the important industries during the last two or three years. A large building was erected this year at the south end of the Wisconsin avenue bridge. Here bottle wrappers are being made of marsh hay as fast as wheels can be turned over in the machines. The officers: President, William Dichmann; vice- president and treasurer, C. A. Wakeman; secretary, Erna Dichmann.
Machinery.
Quantities of machinery are made every year in Oshkosh. Much of it is for sawmill and woodworking purposes and conse- quently the local shops are represented in every lumbering cen- ter on the continent as well as in many farther away. Some of these companies, with their special lines and their officers, are as follows :
Challoner Company, saw, lath and shingle mill machinery; president, Samuel B. Everhart; secretary. T. R. Frentz; treas- urer, Floyd S. Everhart, Jr.
Wilkin-Challoner Company, sawmill machinery; president, C. W. Radford; secretary and treasurer, John C. Challoner.
E. B. Hayes Machine Company, woodworking machinery; president, J. F. Hayes.
J. A. Barnes Machine Company; president, L. A. Barnes; vice- president, E. M. Phillips; secretary and treasurer, J. A. Barnes.
Pine-Ihrig Machine Company, wireworking machinery and coilers ; president, R. H. Edwards; vice-president. W. J. Pine; secretary and treasurer. E. W. Ihrig.
Marine Motors.
Not far afield, when we have come to these lines, is the mak- ing of marine gasoline engines. Two of the Oshkosh factories are known favorably in the United States. Canada and twenty foreign countries. From small beginnings the Termaat & Mona- han Company and the H. C. Doman Company have grown to comfortable proportions. In the present year the former con- cern increased its capital stock from $50,000 to $200.000.
The Termaat & Monahan Company has its plant between
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
River street and the Fox river east of the Chicago & Northwest- ern railroad. Its officers are: President, J. D. Termaat; vice- president, L. J. Monahan; secretary and treasurer, M. L. Cot- trill. The company does a general machine and foundry busi- ness and makes gasoline locomotives.
The H. C. Doman Company is located at the corner of Fifth and Nebraska streets on the river. It makes Doman marine motors and steam engines exclusively. The officers of the com- pany are: President, Edgar P. Sawyer; vice-president, Phil H. Sawyer; secretary and treasurer, Edward C. Doman; general manager, H. C. Doman.
Marine motors are also made by the U. S. Gas Engine Works, of 715 South Main street. The proprietor is G. Boek.
Boat Builders.
George D. Ryan, of Oshkosh, is well known as a builder of steam and other large boats. His craft have been the standard on the Fox river waters for many years. The Ryan shipyard is on the river bank east of the Radford plant.
Jones & LaBorde are leading makers of sailboats and launches, while the Oshkosh Boat Works makes launches, row- boats and canoes. J. H. Jones is president and treasurer of Jones & LaBorde, and George E. LaBorde is vice-president and secretary. The officers of the boat works are: President, G. H. O'Byrne; secretary, J. J. O'Brien; treasurer, Samuel B. Shirk; superintendent, Matt Mathisen.
Other boat builders are the Oshkosh Boat & Canoe Company (Peter L. Hansen) the Lewis Boat Works and W. E. Morrison & Son.
Carriages and Wagons.
Oshkosh has a number of carriage and wagon makers. Of the former the J. L. Clark Carriage Company and Thomas Neville are leaders. The officers of the Clark company are: President and treasurer. H. M. Clark; vice-president, S. F. Clark : secretary. E. M. Clark.
T. Neville & Co. (Thomas Neville) makes automobiles as well as carriages. ambulances, patrol wagons and the like.
Other carriage makers are Henry Augustin and the John- son-Kimball Carriage Works.
A. Streich & Brother Company have a large South Side plant for the manufacture of wagons, especially for the logging in-
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MANUFACTURING IN OSHKOSH.
dustry. The officers: President, C. J. Streich; vice-president, Mrs. Anna Gustavus; secretary, Fred A. Streich; treasurer, Ida E. Streich. Gabriel Streich and Gillingham & Son are in the same line of business. The former has a large plant at the cor- ner of Oregon and Sixth streets. John Mathwig has a shop on Sixth street.
Other Manufacturers.
I have perhaps seemed to devote too much space to firms now in business as compared with those gone by, but as a matter of permanent record these details are worth while. The following manufacturers are also recorded in Bunn's directory, some of them being of considerable importance :
The Oshkosh Brewing Company, the Rahr Brewing Company, the Baranowski Art Glass Works; the Wisconsin Art Glass Company; H. C. Johnson & Son (tents, awnings and sails) ; Re- liance Boiler Works (E. R. Gustavus) ; Battis Brothers (Union Boiler Works) ; Louis Schneider (bottle wrappers) ; nineteen cigar manufacturers, among them H. C. Derksen & Sons, C. M. White and August Guenther; M. M. Kitz & Sons (cigar boxes) ; Oshkosh Cistern & Tank Company; A. Sperlich & Sons Company (cisterns and tanks) ; Joseph Laus (confectionery) ; Oshkosh Bedding & Couch Company; Electrical Manufacturing Com- pany; Oshkosh Excelsior Manufacturing Company; Reliance Flouring Mills; H. P. Schmidt Milling Company; Ballard & Son (gas engines and bicycles) ; Standard Mirror Company (John Strange and A. J. Barber) ; H. F. Wenrich (granite and marble works) ; Woehler & Burr (a similar line) ; Oshkosh Grill & Nov- elty Works; John R. Jones (ladders) ; Cook & Brown Lime Company (lime and brick) ; Oshkosh Builders' Supply Com- pany (lime and crushed stone) ; C. G. Dauber Machine Com- pany; V. Adams Machine Company; Davis-Hansen Company (machinery and pumps) ; Knippenberg Manufacturing Com- pany; Oshkosh Machine Company; Ransom Manufacturing Company (machinery) ; Walker-Challoner Company (machin- ery) ; Ira Parker & Sons Company (paint) : Oshkosh Paper Box Company ; A. J. Greenkorn, James Laing (pop) ; Gillen's Laun- dry & Dye Works (fluff rugs) ; Oshkosh Fluff Rug Company; C. F. Warning (sheet metal) ; Terwedo Manufacturing Com- pany (sheet metal) ; Custom Shirt Company; Oshkosh Muslin Underwear Company; Forewarned Sleeve Protector Company; Oshkosh Soap Company (L. F. Thiessen) ; Theodore Last, Rob- ert Lutz, Oscar Prautsch (quarried stone) ; A. H. Adams (store
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