Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 9 (2 of 2 so headed), 1881 (part 2 of 2)

The Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company is destined to become as familiar throughout the country as the Wheeler & Wilson, Howe, Singer, and others of that kind now. In 1868, William Franz and Dr. W. Pope commenced the inventing of a knitting machine for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. They succeeded and obtained a patent, and have patented eight improvements since, and bought six others, making fourteen improvements and patents now owned by them, until their machine is almost perfect. The Forum, in 1872, said ; "In 1870, a company was formed here called the Bucyrus Knitting Machine Company, which commenced operations, but was disbanded in 1871, and the present joint-stock company was formed." This company was composed of Dr. William Pope, Dr. C. Fulton, James Clements, John Franz, Thomas Beer, George Quinby, George Donnenwirth and William Franz. Of this company, George Quinby was President ; WiUiam Franz, Secretary, and Dr. W. Pope, General Agent. Says the Forum : " Last year 1,500 machines were made - this year the number will reach 2,500 ; the ice is really just being broken, and the deninml in the futnre will be enormous. The variet}- of work it is capable of producing is wonderful, being adapted to all manner of crotcheting - making tidies or afghans, as well as common hosiery. It knits a stocking, heel and toe complete, without taking it off the hooks, in seven minutes, with but little hand finishing required." In 1878, a Hosiery Department was added to the establishment, in which some thirty young ladies are employed constantly. The following are the present officei's : Dr. William Pope, President ; James Clements, Secretary ; William McCutcheon, Treasurer and Book-keeper ; John R. Perrot. Foreman, a position he has held since the formation of the present company. The works are doing a good business, and have machines in Germany, England, Japan, and other foreign countries, in addition to the sales in our own country. The Forum, in its sketch of this enterprise, from which we have already quoted, draws this fanciful and prophetic picture of its future : " The readers of the Fornm will have no difficulty in recalling to mind a familiar picture - a pleasant room made doubly pleasant by a genial fire on the hearth At hand is a corner sacred to ' Grandma,' and here she sits, hour after hour, knitting, knitting, weaving into common-place stockings a thousand pleasant memories of the past or visions of the future - this is her favorite employment. Gaze upon it while you may, reader, for soon grandma's occupation, like Othello's, will be gone. In place of the loved old lady, whose eye is fast growing dim, and whose hands tremble with age, will be seen a younger generation - in place of the bright needles that ' click 'v.and glisten as the stocking is slowl3- fashioned, will be a little machine labeled ' Franz & Pope's Patent ' - the good wife or daughter seats herself, hastily turns a crank for a few minutes, and, presto ! here is a complete stocking." Finally the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company will find their time fully employed in the future, and it is no diflicuU matter to predict a continuation of the prLvsent prosperity of this valuable industry.

The Bucyrus Plow Works was originally established by A. Shunk, Sr., more than twenty years ago. His capital was limited ; the business was somewhat of an experiment, and was of small proportions, employing but four men and doing the work all by hand-power. As the years went by, the business was increased, compelling the introduction of steam-power and magnificent buildings, occupying a large space ; a wood shop, 30x50 feet, brick, two stories high ; smith shop 50x18 feet ; grinding room, 25 feet square ; lumber room of the same dimensions ; engine room 20x20 feet, and foundry 40x60 feet. Persistent energy has worked these changes and improvements. The works have a capacity of 1,000 plows per j-ear.of nine different varieties. The sale of these plows is chiefly in Ohio and the Western States, and so rapidly has their fame spread that every plow is sold before it leaves the shop, and even advance orders can scarcely be filled, the demand for them is so great. In May, 1870, a firm was formed consisting of A. Shunk, Jr., F. E. and N. T., all brothers. Several changes have taken place, and the firm now is A. Shunk, Sr., alone. He, as we have said, was the originator of the establishment, and still supervises the work. He is a man of genius, makes his patterns himself, and a plow, also, that has no superior in the market.

One of the large and enterprising establish- I ments of Bucyrus is the planing-mill of the I Vollrath Brothers. Gottlieb Vollrath came to the town in 1849, and, 'in 1855, he started a i planing-mill under the firm of G. Vollrath & Co., the firm comprising Mr. Vollrath and two sons - Albert and Charles. In 18(i7, William, another son, bought out his father, and the firm became, as now. Vollrath Brothers, comprising Albert, Charles and William. In 18(58, their present brick building was erected, three stories, 78x45 feet, besides the engine and boiler room, which is also of brick, and is 19x54 feet. In its arrangement, a view was had to convenience, the best possible machinery was obtained, and every preparation made for conducting business upon a large scale. Now, an average of from fifteea to twenty men is emploj'ed, and large quantities of sash, doors, blinds, moldings, etc., and also a general planing-mill business is done. In addition to this, a large business is carried on in dressed and undressed lumber, their yards and mill occupying over an acre of ground. All of the brothers are practical business men, and pay strict attention to the business.

The Bucyrus Flouring Mill Company is also an enterprise of the VoUrath Brothers. In 1870, they fitted up a part of their planing-mill building, and commenced this line of business. In 1872, it was bought by P. A. Vollrath, a brother to those engaged in the planing-mill^ who has run it ever since. It is provided with three runs of buhrs - two for wheat and one for corn. It is supplied with a separate engine from that of the planing-mill, and is a first-class institution in every respect. Mr. Vollrath is well known in town and county, and his pleasant face is familiar to all.

The Buckeye State Wood Works was established in 1866, by A. M. Jones & Company. Their line of manufacturing is confined principally to the making of spokes, hubs and bent work. The grounds embrace an area of an acre and a half, the buildings being - main workshop, 100x40 feet ; engine-room, 50x20 feet ; warehouses, 22x156 and 18x40 feet. The original members of firm were A. M. Jones, W. C. Lennert. Lyman Parcher and John Jones. Nicholas Reel was afterward admitted, and, shortly after, John Jones and Lyman Parcher sold out to the other three partners, and the firm is still A. M. Jones & Co. The business has proved a success, and gives employment to a large number of hands continually, the average being about thirty, requiring an annual disbursement of over $30,000 for wages and other expenses. The business was at first an experiment, but, under careful management, has grown volumious, and is one of the most important manufacturing interests of the town.

The Donnenwirth Brewery ranks among the large manufacturing establishments of Bucyrus. It was originally established in 1858, by Henry Anthony. In the following spring 6. Donnenwirth, Jr., became a partner, and in the fall the firm became Gr. Donnenwirth & Son, his father taking an interest in the business with him. A large business is done in manufacturing der lager," consuming yearly thousands of pounds of hops and thousands of bushels of barley in the manufacture of this drink that does not inebriate. We have the word of a good old German, who said, when asked if lager would make a man drunk, that he had often drank as many as sixty or seventy glasses a day without becoming intoxicated, but if a man was to make a hog of himself, he didn't know what the effect might be. We don't either.

The Sandusk3' Valley Mills were built in 1860, by S. A. Bowers and J. W. Delancy near the site of the Deardorflf steam saw-mill. In 1801, Mr. Delancy retired, and Bowers continued in the business until 1872, when he sold out to C. T. Miller. Mr. Miller failed shortly after, when Mr. Bowers took them back, and lately Mr. Delancy has again taken an interest in them, and the old firm of Bowers & Delancy are now operating them. Their building is 40x50 feet and three stories high, containing three run of buhrs and ample steam-power, furnished b}' two engines. These mills are doing a good business and are justly celebrated for the excellence of their flour.

Keller, Stoll & Co., erected a planing-mill in 1859. Subsequently it changed to the management of Stoll & Bro., and in 1869, the firm of Stoll, Bro. & Co., was formed. The mill is a large one ; the main building is 70x40 feet, with an engine room 40x18 feet, and the entire establishment is supplied with the best of machinery. A large number of men are empIo3'ed, and an extensive business is done in sash, doors, blinds, etc., also in lumber of all kinds. R. C.. Roer is now a member of the firm, and is one of the energetic business men of Bucyrus. Their market is both at home and abroad, and, whenever good work is required, there is a demand for their goods, and their trade is increasing.

The Smutter Factory of M. Deal is one of the important industries of Bucyrus. Mr. Deal began the manufacture of these machines in 1868, then known as the California Smutter. It is a machine for taking smut out of wheat, and is of incalculable value to wheat growers and dealers. Mr. D. has added six new improvements to the machine since he commenced the business, and now manuftictures thirt3--six different styles of machines for cleaning wheat. His present factory, which is in one of the most pretentious buildings in the town, employs some twenty-five men the year round, and has a capacitj- for putting up 500 machines per year. There are now over six hundred local agencies in the United States, Canada, South America and England, and from $60,000 to $75,000 worth of machines are shipped annually.

The Main Street Mills were established by Zeigler. Gross & Co., and in October, 1871, the firm of F. & J. Gross was formed, succeeding the old one, and in the following May, they built the present mills. The building is of brick, 48x50 feet, two stories besides basement, and engine-room. It had originally three run of buhrs and a capacity for manufacturing more than fifty barrels of flour every twelve hours. In 1876, Mr. Zeigler returned to Bucyrus, after an absence of some years, and became the proprietor of these mills, which he has operated successfully ever since. He has made some improvements ; has added another run of buhrs, and is doing a fine custom and

An enterprise of some considerable interest to the town of Bucyrus is the shops of the Ohio Central Railroad Company, which are now in the course of building here. The shops and buildings comprise a roundhouse, designed for forty stalls, of which ten are to be completed for immediate use ; a machine and smith shop, 150x70 feet ; an engine and boiler house, 50x36 feet; car shops, 100x70 feet, and an office and storeroom, 40x30 feet. All of these are being now built, and are of brick upon stone foundations, and are to be surmounted by a self-supporting metal roof Some of the contractors in this work are as follows : The Union Planing Mills have a contract to furnish the door and window frames, flooring, etc. ; the Eagle Machine Works supplies the cast-iron work, and Stuckey & Diller the wrought-iron work. The local contractor, J. G. Prayer, under whose eye the work is being done, is pushing it rapidly forward, and is a contractor of great experience. These shops will be of gi-eat benefit to Bucyrus, and make it quite a railroad town. It is estimated that not less than one million of brick will be used, and that the cost of buildings and machinery will not be far from $1(10.000 at completion, and will continuallj' increases in value as improvements are made and new machinery added.

E. Blair's establishment should be mentioned among the manufacturing industries of Bucyrus. The most important article of his manufacture is " swine jewelry," as it is facetiously termed, though other articles are. and have been for some time, made extensively by him. His wire work is well known. But in his " swine jewelry " he has a large trade. It consists of a ring, or something of that sort, which, when placed in a pig's '- snoot." cflTectually stops him from following his legitimate

The first secret society organized in tlie village of Biicvnis on a permanent basis was the Indepi-nd.-iit ( )vdt'V of Odd Fellows. The Projjh's h'onini. piililishcd September 20, 1845, contains the following advertisement :

La Salle Lodge, after continuing for nearly ten years, surrendered their charter October 2, 1854, but, in about eighteen months, the charter was restored on February 20, 1856. The names of the memljers on the restored charter are Franklin Adams, W. R. S. Clark, William M. Scroggs, Benjamin Failor, C. W. Butterfield, Hiram Feniaer and J. E. Zook. La Salle Lodge, No. 51, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is in a better financial condition than any other secret society in Bucyrus.

A short time after the first ijermanent secret societj- had been organized in Bucyrus by the Odd Fellows, gentlemen who were members of the Masonic fraternity were prevailed upon to establish a lodge of their order in the village. Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, of Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered October 20, 1846, with the following members : Col. Zalmou Bowse, Hibbard P. Ward (Pastor M. E. Church), Joseph E. Jewett, Benjamin Warner, Madison W. Welsh, Amos L. Westover, John Caldwell and Jonas Stough. These charter members are all dead. Those of the first officers elected were : First Master, Joseph E. Jewett ; first Senior Warden, Amos L. Westover ; first Junior Warden, Benjamin Warner. The early records of this society are all lost, and it is impossible to obtain any satisfactory information in regard to the other first officers. Some forty persons are at the present time connecied with this lodge, the officers of which are as

Crawford Lodge, No. 443, of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized May 4, 1870, with the following charter members ; Robert Lee, George F. Seiser, John A. Schaber, George Donnenwirth, Jr., Samuel Hoyt, William Frantz, George C. Gormly, A. J. High and Joseph A. Shepard. The officers of Crawford Lodge at the present time are : Wilson Stewart, P. M.; R. Lee, W. M.; A. J. High, S. W.; John Schaber, J. W.; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer; William McCutchen, Secretary; George Didie, S. D.; Charles Muntz, J. D.; Prank Donnenwirth, Steward ; Stephen Brymier. Tiler.

Bucyrus Council, No. 57. Royal and Select Masons, was organized February 10, 1870, at the Bucyrus lodge-room, at which time the followins; officers were installed : Samuel Hovt,

Thrice Illustrious Grand Jlaster ; Cochran Fulton, First Deputy Graud Master ; John A. Schaber, First P. C. W.; A. J. High, Recorder ; George F. Seiser, Captain of the Guard ; Joseph Goldsmith, Sentinel, and E. B. Pinlej', Treasurer. These gentlemen, with E. R. Kearsley and William M. Seroggs, were the charter members of Bucyrus Council. The officers of this lodge at the present time are Cochran Fulton, T. I. G. M.; John A. Schaber, Deputy I. G. M.; Dr. Stensil, P. C. W.; A. J. High, Captain of the Guard ; F. A. Vollrath, Recorder ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; C. D. Ward, C. of Council ; H. Anthony, Warden ; J. G. Ott, Sentinel.

Demas Lodge. No. 108, Knights of Pythiaswas instituted on Tuesday afternoon and evening, September 11. 1877, by Leroy S. Dungan, of London. Ohio., Grand Chancellor of the State, with the following twenty-four charter members : Walter B. Ritchie, J. H. Robinson, Fred. M. Swingley, William Frantz, 0. E. Gravelle, Henry J. Deal, F. A. Vollrath, J. B. Kreider, Frank L. Plants, Jacob Haller, Jacob Broese, Theoren A. Rowse, Frank P. Kaler, Allen Campbell, G. K. Zeigler, Peter Weller, | Ferdinand Weichold, Moses Emrich, E. M. j Moore, William Trounstine, N. K. Zeigler, G. W. i Harris, C. H. Shonert and Jefl'erson Didie. I The first officers elected for Demas Lodge were ' J. H. Robinson, P. C; F. JL Swingley, C. C; William Frantz, V. C; 0. E. Gravelle, P.; H. J. Deal, K. R. S.; F. A. Vollrath, M. P.; Frank L. Plants, M. A.; Jacob Haller, I. G.; Jacob Broese, 0. G.; F. M. Swingley and William Frantz, Trustees ; E. M. Moore, Clerk. This lodge held their meetings in the third story of the Bowman Block for about one year, and then removed to their present quarters in the Miller Block. The society is in good financial condition.

Section No. 119, Endowment Rank, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in Castle Hall of Demas Lodge, March 6, 1878, with the following sixteen charter members : David Price, Moses Emrich, Allen Campbell, Garrett K. Zeigler, William Frantz, F. A. Vollrath, Prank P. Kaler, Fernand Weichold, Lee Rothschild, Joseph Boure, Charles C. Scott, 0. E. Gravelle, W. B. Ritchie, Theoren A. Rowse, J. H. Robinson and H. J. Deal. The following is a list of the first officers elected : William Frantz, President ; J. H. Robinson, Vice President ; Allen Campbell, Secretary and Treasurer ; 0. PI (rravelle. Chaplain ; H. J. Deal, Sentinel ; Charles C. Scott. Guard ; Frank P. Kaler, Guide. The object of this lodge is to provide financial assistance to the heirs of deceased members ; the amount of the insurance policy is $2,000. Frank L. Plants, who died Tuesday, February 18, 1879, is the only member of the lodge removed by death since it was organized.

Howard Lodge, No. 10'.), of the Knights of Honor, was organized May 3, 1875, at the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., in Birk's Block, with the following charter members : William Reid. C. W. Fisher, E. P. Penfield, M. Emrich, J. M. Black, W. H. Drought, Allen Campbell, L. C. Caldwell, George Lauck, William Boure, W. B. Bennett, George Caswell, Jacob Deardorfl" D. E. Fisher, H. H. Moderweil and S. D. Welsh. The first officers were C. W. Fisher, Dictator ; William M. Reid, Past Dictator; M. Emrich, Vice Dictator ; E. P. Penfield, Assistant Dictator ; J. M. Black, Guide ; George A. Lauck, Reporter ; Allen Campbell, Treasurer ; L. C. Caldwell, Sentinel; Jacob Deardorfl', D. E. Fisher and H. H. Moderweil, Trustees. This lodge held their meetings for two years in the third story of the Bowman Block, and, in May, 1 877, they removed to their present quarters, in the third story of Fisher's Block. The object of the Knights of Honor is to provide financial assistance to the families of deceased members, and $2,000 is the amount of the insurance policy. Ninet3'-four persons are at present connected with Howard Lodge, and, since it was organized, three members have died, viz.: A. C.

Crawford Council, No. 15, of the Royal Arcanum, was instituted September 12, 1877, at the lodge-room of the Knights of Honor, by Deputy Supreme Regent P. L. Teeple, with the following charter members : C. D. Ward, John A. Schaber, A. G. Rosino, G. W. Myers, S. B. Mills, William Vollrath, Nicholas Reehl, J. P. Fitzsimmons, G. W. Stewart, W. H. Drought, Charles Roehr, L. E. Jones, E. P. Penfield, J. H. Sherrard, S. D.Welsh, Charles Vollrath, W. M. Reid,W. B. Bennett, George A. Lauck, H. F. Harris, H. H. Moderwell and P. Bessingor. The first officers were E. P. Penfield, Regent; W. M. Reid, Past Regent ; G. A. Lauck, Vice Regent ; J. H. Sherrard, Orator ; H. F. Han-is, Secretary ; John A. Schaber, CoUector ; S. D. Welsh, Chaplain ; S. B. Mills, Guide ; P. Bessinger, Warden ; A. G. Rosino, Sentry ; C. Vollrath, Treasurer; William Vollrath, L. E. Jones and George A. Lauck, Trustees. The meetings of the Crawford Council are held every Friday evening, in the third story of Fisher & Bros.' Block, which story this society occupies jointly with the Knights of Honor. Three thousand dollars are paid to the families of deceased j members. Fifty-two persons are at present connected with this lodge, which has lost but one member by death since it was organized, and this member - Quincey A. Rowse, who died February 17, 1878 - was the second from the lodges of the Royal Arcanum in Ohio to be removed by death.

The German Aid Association {Deutsche. Unterstutzungs Gesellschafi) was organized March 23, 1874, at Mader's Hall, with 120 members. At the second meeting, held March 25, the following oflScers were chosen : John Schaber, President; P. A. Vollrath, Vice President; Charles F. Welp, Secretary ; F. Weichold, Assistant Secretary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; George Mader, David Sheeley and Charles Metzger, Trustees. The object of this association is to provide financial assistance to its members in time of need. Three dollars each week is paid during sickness, and, upon the death of a member, his family receives $10 from the society funds and $1 from each member of the order. The initiation fee is $4, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five ; $5, from thirty -five to forty-five ; $6, from forty-five to fifty ; $7, from fifty to fifty -five. The quarterly dues are 75 cents from each member. This association was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, July 14, 1874, with the following officers ; John Schaber, President ; F. A. Vollrath, Vice President ; Ferdinand Weichold, Secretary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; J. G. Mader, H. Faerber and George Donnenwirth, Trustees. The first loss by death was Robert Wagner, who died in May, 1875. At the present time, eighty-five of the industrious citizens of Bucyrus and vicinity are members of the Gesellschaft.

During the past sixty years, many attempts have been made to establish other orders in Bucyrus for various purposes. Possibly the first society of anj' kind started in the village was the True American Society, of which order many prominent citizens of the place were members. The objects of this organization are now unknown, but the members signed the following agreement : " We, whose names are undersigned, having conferred together upon the objects proposed and designed by the True American Society, and believing the same to be of great importance, and worthy the aid and support of every true American citizen, we have resolved, and do resolve, ourselves into a branch of said society, to meet monthly, in the town of Bucyrus, on the Saturday next before every full moon in the year, and have therefore hereunto subscribed our names, in presence of each other. First signed at Bucyrus, July 31, 1823." The objects of this order may have been similar to those of the American, or " Know-Nothing," societies, which wielded considerable political power some three decades afterward. Ainoug those who signed the agreement and became True Americans were Samuel Norton, Lewis Stevinson. Amoz Clark, David Beadle, Ishi Norton and others. The secret society which created the greatest furor of any organized in the history- of the town, was Lopez Lodge, No. 85, of the Independent Order of Sons of Malta, which was formed about July 1, 1859. The Forum, of July 16, 1859, said: '- A division of the Sons of Malta was organized tlie other niglit in this place. Quite a number of our most respectable citizens became members. The order is spreading rapidly." Mathias Buchman was chosen Secretary, and it is reported many poor families received liberal donations during the short time this order flourished in the town. The Sons held a grand midnight parade at Bucyrus on the night of October 13, 1859, which was attended by many members of the order from neighboring towns.

In preparing the history of an important and active community which has existed for sixtj' years, of a prescribed length, very many events are necessaril}' omitted which should have received some notice. If, in perusing this brief sketch of Buc^-rus, the reader has failed to find some mention of an event which he considers should have been written up, it is to be hoped he will deal charitably with the history.