CHAPTER X
MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES OF MARION
During the last 15 years the city of Marion has rapidly advanced to the front as a manufacturing center, and to-day much of her prosperity is due to her manufacturing interests. The city's natural advantages aid in decreasing expenses and facilitate the distribution of her manufactured products. Her factories are prosperous and of a diversified character and new ones are continually springing up. In the earlier days there were no manufacturing establishment of importance. In 1846 there was one sawmill and one fulling, oil and carding mill.
The following table, showing the value, of manufactures in the county in 1881, is taken from the "History of Marion County (1883) :"
Cabinet ware .....................................................$ 600.00
Carriages, buggies, etc......................................... 25,976.00
Wagons, drays, carts, etc ................................... 5,905.00
All other wooden manufactures ........................ 5,470.00
Leather articles ................................................ 7:400.00
Drain tile, 1,364,000 feet .................................. 7,550-00
Miscellaneous ................................................... 3,250-00
________
Total ....................................................................$ 56,151.00
On the following pages are given short sketches of some of the best known concerns in the industrial and commercial world of Marion.
The Huber Manufacturing Company.-In the spring of 1866, Edward Huber became a member of the firm of Kowalke, Hammer & Company. This company operated a planing mill. In 1870 the firm was changed to Huber, Gunn & Company, and began the manufacture of the "Huber" revolving rake. In. January, 1875, The Huber Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with a capital stock Of $75,000 to carry on the business of manufacturing and selling agricultural implements and machinery and, at the same time, succeeded to the business and good will of Huber, Gunn & Company, and Holmes & Seffner. The incorporators were Edward Huber, E. Durfee, J. J. Hane, Lewis Gunn and M. W. Haines.
In 1881 the capital stock was increased to $150,000. The company in 1883 employed about 150 men and that year manufactured 150 engines, 150 grain threshers, 2,000 revolving steel scrapers, 3,000 steel dump scrapers, and 6,000 revolving hay rakes. The shops of the company were located in the stone building at the northwest comer of State and Mill streets.
The only specialty at first manufactured by the company was the "Huber" revolving rake. The company soon began to manufacture the "Huber" revolving steel road, scraper, the "Huber" steel dump scraper and the "Huber" farm engine, all the product of Mr. Huber's inventive genius. Later was added the "Huber" grain thresher, the joint invention of Mr. Huber and Fred Stroble.
At present the plant of the company covers nearly 30 acres and is located on Greenwood street, extending along the Erie and "Big
144 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Four" tracks as far east as Jefferson street. The shipping facilities are unsurpassed, as the company has tracks of these two great railroad systems running into the plant. The buildings are substantially built of brick, well ventilated and lighted, with a telephone system that reaches each department. The machinery is driven by electricity and the company's waterworks system is sufficient to accommodate a city of from 3,000 to 4,000 people. The company is now installing its own electric plant.
The capital invested is $1,000,000 and the annual output is over $2,000,000 The company has 13 branch houses, each with a full corps of salesmen, at the following places: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Nashville, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; Des Moines, Iowa; Lansing, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Peoria, Illinois; Wichita, Kansas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Marietta and Washington Court House, Ohio. The company has a general catalogue published annually in English, German and. Spanish and ships its products to Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chili, the Argentine Republic, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, Russia, Spain and Egypt, and to every grain-producing State in the Union.
Six hundred and fifty men are employed in the factory and 100 more on the outside, many of whom have been with the company since its incorporation, and no labor trouble has ever arisen. The capacity of the works is two to four engines and six to eight threshers per day, depending somewhat upon the size.
The company manufactures traction and portable engines, with. wood, coal or straw burners; double cylinder engines, skid engines, bean hullers, swinging stackers, chaff blowers, wind stackers, weighers, wagon loaders and baggers, grain registers, water tanks, etc, etc. As will be seen, the entire energies of the concern are devoted to the manufacture of threshing machinery and nothing else. This fact, coupled with merit, accounts for the fact that the company has built up the largest, exclusive threshing machine factory in the world.
One of the recent inventions, which the company is now manufacturing with great promise of success, is a garbanzo thresher. Garbanzo is otherwise known as the Mexican pea. This product is raised extensively in Mexico and Spain, and used in the manufacture of stock food.
At the great World's Fair at Chicago, 1893, this company won every contest offered for the class of engines manufactured by it, and at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, at St. Louis, in 1904, was again winner of a gold medal, the premium of highest award. Every machine manufactured is fully guaranteed by the company.
The officers of the company are S. E. Barlow, president and treasurer; A. J. Brockett, of Cleveland, vice-president; and E. Durfee, secretary.
The Marion Steam Shovel Company was organized under the laws of Ohio in 1884, with a capital stock of $50,000, the incorporators being Henry M. Barnhart, Edward Huber, Jacob Keiler, George W. King and John B. Mouser. The company manufactures steam shovels, dredges of the dipper and elevator, or continuous-bucket, patterns, ballast unloaders, railroad ditchers, log loaders and kindred machinery.
The growth and development of this company have been remarkable. The first machine was designed by and built under the direction of Henry M. Barnhart in the old Huber shop at the corner of Mill and State streets in 1883, This machine was operated in the field the first season by Mr. Barnhart. Edward Huber furnished the finances and gave much of his time and business experience during the construction of the first machine.
Steam shovels were first built in the city of Boston about the year 1840, but prior to the invention of Mr. Barnhart there had been but little improvement over the earlier crude machines. The shovels manufactured at Marion were known for years as the "Barnhart," but more recently they have come to be known the world over as the "Marion" shovels. The "Marion" steam shovel has figured very materially in every important piece of railway company is now manufacturing with great constructed in the United States and Canada
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 145
within the past 20 years. Prior to 12 or 15 years ago the use of the steam shovel was practically limited to railway construction, and this is perhaps its largest field. But no longer is it confined to this service.
About 1894 the great activity in iron ore mining in the Northwest demanded that cheaper and more efficient means be employed was possible by hand labor, and the steam shovel found a new field of usefulness. There are to-day perhaps over 200 of these monster machines stripping and loading ore in the mines of the Lake Superior region alone, and the Marion company at this time has orders booked for 30 Of their largest shovels for these mines. In a recent report of the proceedings of the American Institute of Mining Emgineers "Marion" shovel is credited with holding the record in output for an hour, day, month and year.
Next to railway construction, perhaps the oldest field for the steam shovel is the brick-yard and a "Marion" shovel was the first to be used in that class of work. The better grade of building and paving brick are made from hard shale, which up to a few years ago it was not thought possible to mine in any other manner than by blasting. But the modern steam shovel will handle such shale mines with as great ease as the shovel of 20 years ago handled loose earth and gravel. There are to-day approximately 150 "Marion" shovels in this class of work in the United States alone.
Other fields where they are extensively used are in the stripping of stone quarries, in excavating marl for the manufacture of cement, in copper, manganese and asbestos mining, and in placer gold mining where conditionss are such that dredges cannot be used. In fact, wherever the handling of earth, rock or minerals demands the use of machinery the modern steam shovel can be found.
In dredging machinery this company manufactures a full line. The dipper type is adapted for river and harbor work, and the drainage of waste lands. The elevator or continuous-bucket type is used largely in placer gold mining. With this latter type of dredge it is possible to excavate to a depth of 65 or 70 feet, to bed rock, elevate the excavated material back over the boat where it is washed and the gold separated from the earth and rock, and carry the debris back a distance of approximately 200 feet from the point of excavation, where it is deposited in the recently excavated ground.
The steam shovels range in dipper capacity from 1/4 to 5 cubic yards, and in weight from 20 to 105 tons. The largest shovels are sold for approximately $15,000. In the dredge line, the prices for the dipper dredges range approximately from $3,500 to $25,000 or $30,000 according to the work which they are expected to perform. In the elevator or continuous-bucket machinery a complete dredge costs anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000.
While we cannot give here a detailed description of this modern plant, a few facts will serve to give a general idea of it. It now covers over 25 acres of ground, and they are crowded for want of space to take care of present demands. Practically every part that enters into the construction of the product is made in the company's own plant. There are a dozen large buildings, the longest of which is 715 feet; all are equipped with the most modern and improved appliances and devices calculated for the cheapening of production. The processes of steel making, the heavy forgeries, and manufacture of chain by hand are among the more interesting features of this
146 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
plant. The Company maintains a chemical laboratory for the purpose of providing the best of materials from which to construct its machinery. All buildings are well lighted and are heated by steam. The plant is located at the junction of five steam roads, which afford unsurpassed shipping facilities. The present working capacity of the plant is 40 completed machines per month.
The present capital stock of the company is $1,000,000 and the yearly output exceeds $3,000,000. There are 1,600 men on the payroll, which amounts to approximately $75,000.00 every month.
The growth of this company's business can perhaps best be shown by a statement of the number of its employees at stated periods. There were during 1890 a monthly average of 150 men employed; in 1900 the average was 310; while in 1906 there are 1,300 employees.
Practically every dollar of this stock is owned by Marion. citizens, and it is distinctly a Marion enterprise, and one which has figured more largely in the upbuidling of the present industrial Marion than any other concern.
Associated with Mr. Barnhart from the very beginning was George W. King, who succeeded to the office of general manager upon the death of Mr. Barnhart in 1890. Following the death of Mr. Huber, in 1904, Mr. King became president. The company's present condition is due largely to the efforts of Mr. King and his corps of able assistants.
The present officers are: George W. King, president and general manager; Frank A. Huber, vice-president and treasurer; A. E. Cheney, secretary and sales manager; and George W. Barnhart, manager at San Francisco for the Pacific Coast.
Leffler & Bland.-The present partnership firm of Leffler & Bland consists of Charles W. Leffler and William Bland. The business originated in 1857 when James Culbertson and Godfrey Leffler formed a partnership, which continued until the close of the season of 1871. Then Culbertson retired and Godfrey Leffler conducted the business alone until 1881, when he and William Bland formed the partnership since known as Leffler & Bland. On January 1, 1897, Charles W. Leffler purchased the interest of his father, Godfrey Leffler, and the firm has so continued to this day. The firm does a general contracting business. Some of the buildings of a public nature erected by this firm are the Infirmary buildings, Marion County jail, Kerr House, Court House, Marion, Brewery, the buildings of the Marion Steam Shovel Company, Union Depot, Masonic Temple, Children's Home, Old Ladies' Home, the factories of the Marion Shoe Manufacturing Company, Gebhardt Piano Company, Houghton Sulky Company and the Miller Manufacturing Company; State Street, Davids street, Forest Lawn and Olney Avenue school buildings, and a score or more of business blocks in the city of Marion. The large business block now being erected at the southwest corner of Center and Prospect streets, and the Oak Street school building are being constructed by this firm.
The McMurray Sulky Company is one of the oldest manufacturing establishments in the city, being just 40 years old. The institution was established in 1866 by Moore & McMurray. Two years later the building of the firm was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Moore was succeeded by J. W. McMurray. T. J. McMurray and J. W. McMurray immediately rebuilt the works-a two-story brick structure 66 by 166 feet on the east side of North Main street. In 1870 W. B. Fisher became a partner and in 1874 J. W. McMurray retired. The present company was organized in 1898 under the laws of Ohio, and has a capital stock of $37,000 paid in. The company manufactures sulkies, carts and wagons, and enjoys an extensive trade and an enviable reputation. The annual output of the factory amounts to $75,000. The company employs about 30 skilled mechanics. The officers of the company are: T. J. McMurray, president; C. R. McMurray, vice-president; and B. E. Wilson, secretary and treasurer
The John F. Lust Company is the result of
PAGE 147 - BLANK
PAGE 148 - PICTURES OF THE PLANT OF THE MARION STEAM SHOVEL COMPANY, MARION
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 149
the business enterprise of John F. Lust, who, with a small capital, started in the wholesale and retail candy business in 1873. In 1884 he began to do an exclusively wholesale business, which from 1895 to 1903 was operated under the firm name of J. F. Lust & Son. In 1903 the present company was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, of which $54,000 is fully paid in. The company manufactures confectionery at Nos. 141-145 North Main street, and is noted for the production of fine chocolates. Four men are kept on the road and about 40 persons are given employment at the factory. The goods shipped average one and a half tons daily, and amount annually to $95,000 The officers of this company are: John F. Lust, president; W. S. Probst, vice-president; and Frank Lust, secretary and treasurer.
The Ohio Milling & Elevator Company is the successor to probably the oldest business concern in Marion. Col. Hezekiah Gorton, the county's first auditor, was one of the first grain and wool buyers in the county. In 1852 Ault & Gorton built the "Marion" elevator, in what was then the eastern part of the village, on the B. & I. Railroad, which had just been completed through Marion. The elevator was 40 by 80 feet on the ground and two stories high. In 1854 S. E. DeWolfe purchased the elevator and operated it until April, 1904, when he sold out to The Ohio Milling & Elevator Company. This company was Organized with a capital stock Of $25,000. It conducts a general elevator business and retails coal, grain, seed, flour, salt, cement and builders' supplies. The officers of the company are John H. Stoll, president; George E. Salmon, vice-president; Loring J. Smith, secretary and general manager; and Benjamin F. Waples, treasurer.
The Marion Milling & Grain Company operates the only flouring mill in Marion, and in connection therewith carries on a general elevator business. This elevator was built by John Gregory in 1874 on the northwest corner of Mill and Prospect streets. In 1891 The Marion Milling Company bought out Mr. Gregory. The Marion Milling & Grain Company was organized in 1897 with a capital of $25,000 and has since operated the mill and elevator. The elevator has a capacity of 30,000 bushels and the mill produces 150 barrels of flour a day. The mill is equipped for the modern patent processes, and by the use of the finest variety of soft, red, winter wheat turns out a superior grade of flour, known as "B" Pride of Marion. The present officers of the company are: Henry Strelitz, president; John A. Schroeter, vice-president; William Morgenthaler, secretary; and Frank H. Owen, treasurer and manager.
The Marion Manufacturing Company was incorporated under the laws of Ohio in 1884 and reorganized under the laws of New Jersey in 1904. The capital stock of the company paid in is $400,000 The company owns its extensive shops, which are well equipped throughout with the most modern machinery and appliances. It employs 200 men and its products amount annually to $300,000. It manufactures the "Leader" special road locomotives, "Leader" traction engines, "Leader" portable and skid engines, "Leader" sawmill engines, "Leader" separators, wind and swinging stackers, self feeders, grain weighers, grain registers, water tanks and threshermen's supplies of all kinds. It also manufactures the "Gottschall-Leader" thresher, the only allsteel, rotary, pneumatic, grain thresher in the world. It maintains branch houses at Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Fargo, North Dakota. The officers of the company are: Warren G. Harding, president; Fred. Haberman, vice-president; James Bastable, treasurer and manager; W. H. Bones, secretary.
Since the above was written, a petition was filed in the United States District Court at Toledo, Ohio, December 31, 1906, asking for the appointment of a receiver, it being charged that the company was unable to pay its debts. James Bastable, the treasurer and manager of the company, was appointed. At a later date
150 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
a trustee in bankruptcy was placed in charge business, which is being continued for the benefit of the creditors. The work, force of the concern has suffered no diminution in numbers.
The Marion Malleable Company was organized in December, 1905, and took over the plant of The Marion Malleable Iron Company, which had been engaged in the manufacture of malleable castings for 20 years previous. The company is incorporated under the laws of Ohio, with a paid-up stock of $55,000, and is engaged exclusively in the manufacture of malleable castings, of which 2,400 tons of produced annually. The company employs 200 rnen in its foundry at the intersection of Center and Cayuga streets. The officers of the company are: Charles L. LaMarche, president and treasurer; P. J. Martin, vice-president and manager; and E. E. Sanders, secretary.
The Fairbanks Steam, Shovel Company is one of Marion's more recent incorporations, though the enterprise was established in 1893 by James G. Fairbanks, as the Fairbanks Construction Company. This company's shops were located on East George street, here Mr. Fairbanks also operated a stone quarry. In April, 1903, the present company was organized under the laws of Ohio, with a capital stock of $200,000, and the same year the shops were constructed just off of Leader street on 10 acres of land at the intersection of the Erie, "Big Four," Pennsylvania and Hocking Valley railroads, The buildings are new and modern in every respect, of solid concrete, on the daylight plan; the machinery is of the latest improved type, electrically driven by motors in each department, the current coming from the large dynamo driven by a 250 H. P. Corliss engine in the company's own engine room. Such has been the growth of the business of the company that 300 men, mostly skilled mechanics, are now employed, at the works and the annual output exceeds the value of $300,000.
The company builds dipper dredges, steam shovels, ditcher machines, sawmills, locomotive cranes and "Lobo" traction engines. Its officers are: James G. Fairbanks, president; R. W. Imbody, vice-president; William E. Scofield, secretary; and R. C. McCollum, treasurer.
The Prendergast Company was chartered in February, 1907, under the laws of Ohio with an organized capital Of $400,000, succeeding The Prendergast Lumber & Coal Cornpany. The business was established at Marion in 1879 and the original company incorporated in 1895, with a capital of $200,000, which was increased on April 1, 1906, to $400,000. The company formerly operated an extensive retail lumber and coal business in Marion, which was sold to The Wollenweber Lumber Company previous to the reorganization and was the largest retail coal dealer in the city. The directory of the new company consists of J. F. Prendergast, 0. S. Rapp, W. S. Probst, George W. King, Warren G. Harding, John A. Schroeter, Frank A. Huber and William E. Scofield. Mr. Prendergast president, 0. S. Rapp, vice-president S Probst secretary. The new concern started business March 1st, in the mean time taking over the lumber and timber stock and business and various sawmills of the Prendergast Lumber & Coal Company in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. The new corporation will continue the timber, hardwood, wholesale lumber and railway tie and timber business which has been so successfully developed by the predecessor company in the past few years. The heavy growth of the business led to the separation of its transactions from the local retail business.
The Wollenweber Lumber Company - Early in February, 1907, Oswald Wallenweber organized The Wollenweber Lumber Company, which took the lumber and coal yards, planing-mill and general retail plant of The Prendergast Lumber & Coal Company, and on March 1st acquired the entire business of The Marion Lumber & Coal Company, the plant consisting of planing-mill
PAGE 151 - BLANK
PAGE 152 - PICTURES; SUSQUEHANNA SILK MILLS (MARION), FACTORY OF THE HOUGHTON SULKY COMPANY (MARION) AND FACTORY AND GENERAL OFFICES OF THE HUBER MFG. CO. MARION, O.
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 153
on Prospect street and retail lumber and coal yards. The last mentioned concern, whose corporate existence came to an end March 1, 1907, was incorporated in 1896, with a capital stock of $300,000, succeeding Lindsay & Lawrence, who had at that time been in the lumber and coal business for about 10 years. Michael Lawrence was president of this company and Joseph T. Matthews, secretary and treasurer. The Wollenweber Lumber Company is capitalized at $100,000 under the laws, of Ohio, and has these directors: Oswald Wollenweber, Charles W. Leffler, James F. Prendergast, George W. King, John A. Schroeter, Warren G. Harding and Frank A. Huber. Oswald Wellenweber is president and treasurer; Joseph T. Matthews, secretary; and W. J. Gorton, superintendent.
The Implement Manufacturing Company operates a planing-mill and sawmill on Greenwood street, this city, and is a retail dealer of coal and lumber. The company succeeded to the business of Bryant, Field & Beaver, and was incorporated October 27, 1891, under the laws of Ohio, with a capital stock of $100,000, of which $52,600 is paid in. The company has 50 employees. The officers of the company are: H. A. Martin, president and general manager; H. B. Hane, treasurer; and R. H. Martin, secretary.
The Marion Ice & Cold Storage Company, organized November 21, 1892, under the laws of Ohio, with a capital stock of $50,000, produces distilled water and ice and operates cold storage rooms. It manufactures 36 tons of ice per day, employes 20 men and its cold storage rooms have a capacity of 35,000 cubic feet. The officers of the company are: F. S. Keiler, president and treasurer; Henry Strelitz, vicepresident; C. H. Elliott, secretary; and Henry W. Keller, superintendent.
The Marion Brewing & Bottling Company was incorporated October 10, 1894, under the laws of Ohio, and has a paid-in capital stock Of $90,200. It produces 8,000 barrels of malt liquor per year and furnishes employment for15 men at its brewery plant on Bellefontaine avenue. Its brewery is one of the most perfect in Ohio. The officers of the company are:
Godfrey Leffler, president; F. H. Ritzhaupt, vice-president; L. W. Tron, secretary; and Sam Kraner, treasurer.
The Marion County Telephone Company is a local company incorporated in 1901, with a capital stock of $250,000. Service was begun November 1, 1902. The multiple board central energy plant is located in the Masonic Temple. The switchboard, as installed, has a capacity of 1,800 lines with an ultimate capacity of 4,000 lines. The company now has 2,800 phones in service and reaches every township in the county. The officers of the company are: Fred E. Guthery, president; George W. King, vice-president; Oswald Wollenweber, treasurer; and D. M. Odaffer, secretary and general manager.
The Houghton-Merkel Company was organized under the laws of the State of Ohio, December 1, 1901. The capital stock of the company paid-in is $26,300. The company wholesales and retails all kinds of vehicles and farm implements. Its specialty is building high-grade buggies and delivery wagons of all kinds to order, besides running a general buggy repair shop. It employs 30 skilled mechanics and does an annual business amounting to $60,000. The officers of the company are: W. H. Houghton, president; L. W. Ireland, vice-president; and Charles E. Merkel, secretary and treasurer.
The Gebhardt Piano Company was capitalized at $125,000 under the laws of Ohio, in April, 1902. It has a force of about 30 men, mostly skilled mechanics. The company owns its own home, a substantial brick structure three stories high with a basement, located at the corner of Grand avenue and George street. The output of the factory consists of only the highest grade pianos, known as the "Gebhardt." The officers of the company are: Noah L. Gebhardt, president and treasurer; H. S. Barrett, vice-president; and William Gross, secretary.
154 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
The Susquehanna Silk Mills Company owns and operates large silk mills in the city. The main sales offices of the company are at No. 62 Green street, New York City. The Marion factory is located on a 54-acre tract of land fronting on Oak street. The main building, specially designed for the purposes, is 300 by 200 feet, and the boiler and engine room is 57 1/2 by 171 feet in dimensions. In this factory broad silk, tie silk and silk linings are woven. The product from the Marion mills alone is over 1,000,000 yards of silk annually. The company began to operate the looms in this city on December 8, 1902. At present it employs 270 persons, of whom 230 are girls, but as there are 300 looms in the mill, the concern could easily and would gladly give employment to 100 more girls, could they be secured.
The company owns its own electric plant, which supplies the factory with light and power. It has also built a boarding house on its premises, which will accommodate 20 girls. The superintendent's residence and five modern homes for the foremen of the works are nereby, all built by the company. The officers of the company are: H. E. Schniewind, Sr., of Elberfeld, Germany, president; H. E. Schniewind, Jr., of New York City, vicepresident and treasurer; Max Sieberman, of New York City, secretary; and A. Klerx, local superintendent.
In addition to its mills in Marion, the company operates a dye and finishing works in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and has also at the same place large weaving mills.
The Houghton Sulky Company was organized under the laws of Ohio in 1904, with a capitalization of $50,000 The company manufactures high-grade racing and pleasure vehicles. About 70 men, nearly all skilled mechanics, are employed. The factory, a three-story, brick building with basement, was erected in 1904, on Lincoln avenue, just north of the "Big Four" and Erie railroads, at a cost of $30,000. The value of the annual output of the company is $120,000 The officers of the company are: W. H. Houghton, president and treasurer, Hoke W. Donithen, vice-president; and V. Gordan Stair, secretary.
The Marion Shoe Manufacturing Company was organized under the laws of Ohio in 1904, with a capital stock of $50,000. The credit for securing this new industry in Marion is largely due to George D. Copeland and E. B. Durfee of this city. The company immediately after its organization built a modern three-story, brick factory building at the corner of Park boulevard and Darius street, It employs 180 men and women in its factory. A full line of ladies', misses' and children's shoes are manufactured by the company, annual output of the factory being 25,000 pairs. The officers of the company are: Foster Copeland, of Columbus, Ohio, president George D. Copeland, vice-president; and C. H. Starner, of Columbus, Ohio, secretary and treasurer. G. Foster Copeland and C. H. Starner are officers of The Starner-Copeland Company of Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Starner is also treasurer of The H. C. Godman Company, of Columbus, Ohio.
The Smith Mattress Company is a partnership, engaged in manufacturing mattresses, under the management of William T. Smith. It began business in 1889 and at first produced four mattresses a day. It now makes 22 different kinds of mattresses, furnishes employment for 15 employees and annually produces 20,000 mattresses.
The F. D, McKinniss Company succeeded The Bindley-McKinniss Company in October, 1905. The Bindley-McKinniss Company was organized in 1901, under the Ohio laws, with a capital of $45,000, and the same year purchased the wholesale grocery business of C. C. Stoltz, which has been added to and continued by the present company. The large warehouse of the company is located on North Prospect street. This building is the old Presbyterian Church added to and remodeled, so that it is not to-day recognizable, but is one of the most convenient and up-to-date wholesale grocery warehouses in Central Ohio. The
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 155
officers of the company are: F. D. McKinniss, president, treasurer and general manager; and J. F. Shook, secretary.
The Bindley Grocery Company was organized in 1905 by Josiah Bindley, who previously had been associated with The Bindley-McKinniss Company, The company is incorporated under the laws of Ohio with a capital stock of $50,000. It purchased the stock of The Merger Company, greatly increased the stock and continued in the general wholesale business. During the summer of 1906 a modern, up-to-date, three-story brick structure, with basement, was erected by the company on North State street. The building is especially designed for the business, with electric elevator, well lighted offices and sample rooms, commodious warehouse and the best of switching facilities, tracks running into the building. The officers of the company are: Josiah Bindley, president; and E. H. Bindley, secretary and treasurer.
The Dix & Mason Brick Company manufactures a superior grade of brick, under the management of the Mason Brothers, who have been in the brick manufacturing business in this city for 11 years. The company annually produces from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 brick at the plant just north of the city.
The Auto Inn was established by C. C. Stoltz in 1901. It is one of the finest garages in this part of Ohio, well arranged with steel ceiling and cement floors, and has a capacity for holding 50 machines
The Marion Pure Milk Company was organized in 1904 with a capital stock of $10,000, and does a retail milk business in Marion. The plant is located on Belmont street and is equipped for sterilizing the product by the latest machinery. The officers of the company are: William T. Jones, president Fred E. Coon, vice-president; Arthur Myers, secretary; and D. Hedges, treasurer.
Hotels.-The first tavern in Marion was kept by Eber Baker. It was an aristocratic house, where all the judges and lawyers put up. It is said that in 1825 about one-fourth of the. population of the village was in the hotel business. The rates in that early day were 6 1/4 cents for lodging, 12 1/2 cents for feeding a horse and 18 3/4 cents for a dinner. In 1837 Marion had four hotels. At the southwest corner of Main and Mill streets, Edward Kennedy was located in a brick building. Half a square south of this, where DeVeny's. store now is, Fred Byerly kept the Byerly Hotel. This hotel was afterwards run by Michael Coon, Joseph Stokes, and Messrs. Shaubs and Sands. It was rebuilt by Benjamin Kerns and kept by General Clark, who died of cholera in 1854. Then C. B. Mann, Mr. Davis and Philip Loebrich became the proprietors in the order named, and the building burned while in the possession of Loebrich in 1859.
The Mansion House, a view of which is shown in this work, was a. stone structure on the corner of State and Center streets, where Hotel Marion now stands. It was built by Eber Baker about 1830, and for 20 years was the best tavern between Columbus and Sandusky. It was subsequently known as the Exchange Hotel. It was kept in 1887 by Father Parish. In 1882-83 A. H. Kling, George H. Kling and J. J. Hane erected a four-story hotel building on the same site at a cost of $50,000. This popular hostelry is known as Hotel Marion. Its first proprietor was E. D. Ely, of Akron, Ohio.
The Marion House was located on the present site of the Pilgrim Inn. Cyrus B. Mann, a good landlord, kept the place in 1837. He was succeeded by Mr, Young and he by John Search, who died of cholera in 1854. Fred Freese then took possession, added and other story and changed its name to American House. In 1873 the American House, was torn down and a four-story, brick hotel building was built by Robert Kerr. It was opened as a hotel April 14, 1873, by J. Cochran, who kept it until 1877, when Joseph Johnson took possession.
The Hotel Majestic is under the manage-
156 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
ment of Charles E. Perry. The building, which is located on State street, was erected in 1901 by Lenox Reber and contains 48 rooms.
Space will not permit the writer to detail the history of the many worthy and enterprising business houses of Marion. Mention should be made of four business establishments, which have survived and kept pace with the progress of modern business methods and still remain a factor in the business life of Marion. Julius Strelitz came to Marion from Prussia in 1854 and at once engaged in the clothing business, which, since his death has been continued by his two Sons. Frank R. Salter still conducts the business established by himself and his father in 1865. Michael Clarey, the generous and genial blacksmith, still works the year around at his trade on North Main street, where 36 years ago he started, soon after his arrival from the Emerald Isle. Edmond Molloy, in the same locality, has conducted a grocery and liquor business since 1875. Of all the industries mentioned in this chapter only that of John F. Lust dates back to 1873, without a change in management. The pioneers of Marion have gone, and with them the ever present plug hat and much of that old-fashloned, but sincere, hospitality. In material wealth the city has made giant strides in the last 30 years. In hospitality, morals and religion it can, with its sister cities, meditate with profit upon the lives of those who knew not the possibilities and inevitable tendencies of the modern city.
The Marion Commercial Club.-One Of the flourishing social and business organizations of Marion, and one to which the city owes a continuing debt of gratitude, is the Marion Commercial Club. It stands for the development of the commercial and industrial interests of the city. With the enthusiastic support of men of sound business sense and integrity, it has been the means of inspiring a movement toward bigger and better things, and has induced men with capital and solid institutions to select Marion for their future homes. While young in years, the organization is rich in its accomplishments. Already it has been instrumental in securing for Marion the Gebhardt Piano Company, the Houghton Sulky Company, the Susquehanna Silk Mills, and the vast and far-reaching improvements. being made in West Marion by the Erie Railroad.
The Marion Commercial Club Company was organized June 1, 1901, with a capital of $15,000. Its first directors were S. E. Barlow (president), H. B. Hane (secretary), Warren G. Harding, F. Prendergast, C. Sawyer, C. C. Stoltz, Edward Huber, D. R. Crissinger and H. A. Martin. At present the directors of the company are: William E. Scofield (president), John A. Schroeter (vicepresident), J. C. Anthony (2nd vice-president), Mitchell Strelitz (treasurer), Tracy Allen (secretary), J. F. Prendergast, Warren G. Harding, Frank R. Saiter, C, A. Monnett and H B. Hane. The pleasant and well-furnished club home is located on Prospect street, just South of Center street.
It. is to lead the way, offer means and methods, accept and investigate suggestions, advertise the city and bring its unsurpassed facilities for factories and homes to the attention of the outside world, that the Marion Commercial Club was Organized.
There is material proof that Marion is growing rapidly and the opportunities are so great in every direction, that a city of double the present population within the next 10 years is not deemed an extravagant prediction. To accomplish this much desired end a feverish haste is not necessary, but every-day push and energy that will keep everlastingly at a thing until it is accomplished.