Morrow County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 19 of those read), 1880 (part 2 of 2)

Another prominent enterprise of the village is the furniture factory of J. S. Peck. This industry had an early origin in Cardington. In 1844, Anson St. John supplied the village and the surrounding country. In 1851, Edbert Payne established a shop for the prosecution of this business, but, afler continuing it for a few years, sold out and went West. In 1863, Mr. Peck, with his brother, opened a small store in a frame building, where his retail store now stands. Asa McCreary at that time had a small furniture store in a building where the St. John Block now stands. Soon after his coming here, Mr. Peck bought out McCreary, and a little later bought his brother's interest. He early began manufacturing and building up a wholesale business, occupying a frame building on Second street, opposite his present establishment, and using horse power to run his lathe and other machinery. He afterward put in an engine, but the business expanding, and feeling the danger in case of a fire, he erected, in the fall of 1876, a three-story brick building, on the corner of Second and Depot streets, 42x75 feet, which is devoted entirely to certain lines of furniture. The most of the machinery is on the first floor, and is of the most improved patterns. Fireproof doors close the entrance to the engine-room, and throughout the building in the upper stories, between the various rooms, the doors are used to guard against fire. The building and dryhouse are heated by exhaust steam, and the latter provided with an elevator. In manufacturing, Mr. Peck makes a specialty of bedsteads, employing some fifteen or twenty hands, and a capital of some 030,000. Adjoining this establishment is the planing-mill and lumber-yard of Levi Maxwell. Something over thirty-five years ago, he came from Clarksburg, W. Va., and, engaging in the business of carpenter and joiner, has probably put up more buildings than any other mechanic in the village. His first dwelling was for Dr. White in 1848, now owned by Mrs. Mosher. In 1873, he bought the lumber-yard of Levi Reichelderfer. After purchasing this property, he used themachinery of Peck, but as business increased, he bought machinery of his own, and on the erection of the Peck Block, he rented the north end of the building for his machinery, renting the motor power of Mr. Peck. Since 1873, Mr. Maxwell has built up a business that reaches in extent of its sales to $25,000 annually.

The manufacture of wagons and carriages was one of the earliest industries of the place. Bunker, the early founder of the village, was a successful wagon-maker in Vermont, and notwithstanding the numerous projects that divided his attention, he found time to devote to his old business in the new country. Succeeding him came Thomas C. Thomp- son, wlio establisht'tl a carriage-shop in 188G on the pntperty now owned liy J. M. Wliito. In 1S47, J. H. Fkiekey comnienceil tlie hlac-k.suiith business, doing custom work until 1873, when he began the manufacture of carriages, which he is still carrying on. Tn 1851, G. H. Cunningham began business, and since 1858, save two years, he has made a specialty of the manufiicture of carriages. From 18G2 to 1870, his sales amounted to some $30,000 per year, giving employment to from twenty to twenty-five hands. In 1875, he met with a loss of some S20,0(M) by fire, and the financial depression which followed close upon the heels of this misfortune, forced him into bankruptcy. He went immediately to work again, and is fast regaining his old trade. He now employs some ten hands, and is doing a business of some $10,000 or $15,000 per annum. In 1874, the Hook Brothers started a cooper-shop in the village, finishing their work, save hooping, at the saw-mill of Joseph Smith, a little northeast of the village. After a year or so, the whole business was moved to the village, where the hooping had been done from the first, putting up a shop just west of the depot. Tn November, 1877. the business was sold to Lee & Utter, and two weeks later S. Atwood was taken into the firm, the name changing to Lee, Utter & Co. In February, 1878, two of the buildings west of the depot were totally destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of some $700 above the amount received from insurance. In September of this year, Utter sold out to E. G. Morey, and the firm name was changed to Wood, Lee & Co. Last year, the firm lost a dryhouse by fire. Their establishment is now located just east of the depot biiilding on Depot street, and is admirably arranged for the convenience and safety of the business. The engine is inclosed in a fireproof room and is run with the refuse of the business. Sometimes as high as $50 worth of the reftise wood is sold for kindling in a year. Their specialty is butter-tubs and pails, which they sell in all partvS of the State. La.st year they turned out some 31,000 tubs and their business is still

With such business activity, it would be natural to find the banking business prominently represented. The first bank was organized as early as 1854, by R. J. House, John Beatty and Richard House, under the name of the Banking Company of House, Beatty & Co. They occupied the room in the Benson House now occupied by the drug store. In 1856, there was a change in the stockholders, R. J. House and Richard House withdrawing and J. S. Trimble and Jabez Wood taking their place. The bank was then known for two years as Trimble, Beatty & Wood Banking Company. At the end of that time, the bank changed to Beatty Brothers' Banking Company, the institution being managed by John and William G. Beatty for five years. In 1863, the First National Bank was organized and the Beatty Bank merged into it, with I. H. Pennock, John Beatty, W. H. Marvin. Jacob Kreis, W. G. Beatty, J. W. Marvin, John Andrews, and D. St. John as stockholders ; Dr. I. H. Pennock, President, and W. G. Beatty, Cashier. The bank at that time occupied the room now occupied by Drs. Green and Williams. After the fire of 1875, which nearly destroyed this building, they moved into a room in the EInterprise Block until they completed their new building on the south side of Main street. This was finished in the spring of 1876 at a cost of about ^8,000. It is a one-story building with an ornamental front of finely cut sandstone. The interior is finished in the finest style, the counter figuring in the general cost at $1,400. The stockholders are the same, with the exception of John Beatty and John Andrews, who withdrew, A. Mayer purchasing a part of their stock. The present officers are, Dr. I. H. Pennock, President, and J. I. Lamprecht, Cashier. The Cardington Banking Company organized and commenced business on September 1, 1874, with John Beatty, Jacob Kreis, W. G. Beatty, R. F. Chase, W. Beatty, T. E. Duncan, and T. M. Rees as stockholders. The stockholders have remained unchanged save Dy the death of Mr. Rees, whose stock is now held by his heirs. They occupy a room in the Enterprise Block and do a general banking business, not being a bank of issue ; Jacob Kreis is President, and W. Gr. Beatty, Cashier.

The latest enterprise is the organization of the " Mutual Endowment and Relief Association of Ohio," with its oflSce at Cardington. This association was originated largely by Mr. Hindman, an old insurance agent and resident of the county, and was incorporated February 25, 1879. The officers are John Beatty, President ; R. F. Chase, Vice President ; W. H. Marvin, Treasurer ; W. Gr. Beatty, Secretary ; Dr. I. H. Pennock, Medical Director ; Hon. Thomas E. Duncan, Attorney; M. Hindman, Superintendent of Agencies.

The community that settled Cardington - originating principally in the Quaker settlement of Peru - naturally brought with them their old-time regard for that faith, and found their way frequently to the services held in that settlement. The inconvenience of this arrangement, and the coming of others of different faith, suggested the- holding of services of their own. About 1822 or 1823, the neighbors desiring to have preaching, Jonas Foust went to Waldo and brought Samuel Wyatt, a Free- Will Baptist Minister, to preach in his cabin. This arrangement was kept up for some time until something more permanent could be secured. A little later, the United Brethren were represented, and among the early preachers of that church and others, were Francis Clymer, Loraine, Cadwallader, Moore and Dewitt. The first building erected for church purposes in this section was a log cabin on the land that Johnson Oliver now owns. This was put up by the United Brethren society, about the year 1828. In the eastern part of the township, the Quaker settlement of Gilead had services early ; but as early as 1824 the Methodists had begun their pioneer work. At this time, Rev. J. Grilruth preached in the cabins about, and in the same year the building, put up for the double purpose of schoolhouse and church building, was thrown open to any denomination that chose to use it. The Rev. Mr. Oldfield was an early preacher; but little more is remembered of him. Of the later organizations, it has been difficult to ascertain as complete a record as would be desirable, and for what follows on the different church organizations we are indebted to the pen of Rev. A. K. Earl. The order in which the Methodist and Christian Churches were established is difficult to determine, but it is believed that the Methodist Episcopal Church was the pioneer organization with the Christian Church, coming close after it, and then the Methodist Protestant Church in 1837-38.

The writer's labors commenced here as an itinerant minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, Pittsburgh Conference, in September, 1841. At that time Cardington was a small village, composed of about twenty-five or thirty families, and a population of from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty persons. There was no church edifice in the place, but a frame schoolhouse, situated a little south of Main street, on what is now called Center street, served as a preaching place and place of meeting for all denominations.

From the best information obtainable, the Methodist Protestant Church was organized during the winter of 1837-38, by Rev. David Howell. In the organization, John Shunk and wife, Leumas Cook and wife, Robert Cochran and wife, Jacob Bovey and wife, and probably their three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary ; also, J. D. Glisson and his mother and sister, Mrs. Hartsock, were included. At the close of that conference year. Rev. Moses Scott was appointed to the circuit. It was called the Mount Vernon Circuit, and included parts of the three counties of Knox, Licking and Marion. Mr. Scott remained two years, and was succeeded by Revs. J. B. Roberts and Charles Caddy, who remained but one year, which brings the history of the church to the fall of 1841. The conference was held in Allegheny City. Mount Vernon was made a station, and Mr. Earl was appointed to the circuit, which now contained eight appointments, Fredericktown and Cardington being the Sabbath appointments. When Mr. Earl took charge, the society was composed of twentysix members - Mother Bovey had died, and the Cochran family had withdrawn. During the winter of 1842, quite a revival took place, which was the result of a union protracted meeting between the Methodist Protestant and Christian Churches. The minister, on the part of the Christian Church, was Rev. Mr. Marvin, of Knox County, and Mr. Earl, of the Methodist Protestant Church. It was a genuine old-fashioned revival. I think I am safe in saying over a hundred professed conversion, and among the number was Rev. T. C. Thomson and wife. The MethodLst Protestant Church obtained fifty as an addition, which, with the twentysix old members, made a pretty strong church for that early period, and gave the church the vantageground, as they were now the leading denomination of the place. The Christian Church received quite an addition, and the Methodist Episcopal some. The next step was to provide a house of worship. A meeting was called, a Board of Trustees appointed, a site selected, a subscription started, and in a short time sufficient funds obtained to justify the Trustees in giving Leumas Cook the contract for building a house 30x40 feet, at a cost of $650. In due time the house was finished, and set apart for divine worship. After a period of several years of varying success, the church concluded to build a new house, of larger dimension.^ and greater cost. The old house was sold to Mr. Cook, who moved it a few lots south and fitted it for a dwellins. They then proceeded to build the new house at a cost of some $3,000. It was dedicated at the session of conference in 1856, and, for two years following, Rev. Lemuel Yarnell served as Pastor. The present Pastor is a young minister - Rev. Mr. Tyree. He had some prosperity in a protracted meeting in the early part of this winter. The church, however, is not strong, either in numbers or finances. The present number of members, as reported to me, is from sixty to seventy.

Prior to 1842, there was no Sabbath school in Cardington. Some time during that year an agent of the American Sunday-School Union, by the name of Jones, paid us a visit, lectured on the subject, and organized a Sabbath school auxiliary to the American Sunday-School Union, and supplied it with a library of books. In the organization. Rev. T. C. Thomson, of the Methodist Protestant Church, was made Superintendent, and G. W. Purvis, Assistant Superintendent. It was to all intents and purposes a union school, and remained so until the other churches felt themselves strong enough to go alone, when they withdrew their stock, and organized schools of their own. The present Superintendent is Charles Wesley Hartsock. The number of scholars enrolled is sixtyfive ; the average number in attendance, fifty ; the number of classes, seven ; number of teachers, seven ; value of library, $20 ; number of Sabbath schools, six ; papers taken, seventy. The general condition of the school is good.

For want of proper and reliable records, it is difficult to get a correct starting-point in reference to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cardington and Bethel. After considerable effort amoiig the old members of the church, I have come to the conclusion, that, to say, at an early period Cardington and Bethel were found to be appointments on the Mount Gilead Circuit, is as near as we can get at it. To undertake to say who were the first preachers is equally difficult. Rev. Zephaniah Bell, Rev. Silas Ensign and Rev. Samuel Shaw are all known to be among them, but to fix the order of time when their labor was performed, is the difficult task. The knowledge of the writer goes back to September, 1841 ; Rev. Samuel Allen was preacher in charge, and I think Rev. John Orr as.sisted, and John H. Power was Presiding Elder. At that date, there was a small organization at Cardington ; Anson St. John, William Hill, John Richards and James Hazelton, with their families, were members, and, from the result of a protracted meeting, they received some additions. They then fitted up an unfinished frame building that stood on the lot now owned by M. L. Mooney. About this time they had a few more accessions. Rev. Richard Sims and Lewis Mulford, with their wives, uniting with them ; also Andrew Grant and wife, having moved from Sunbury to Cardington, joined by letter. They did not retain possession of their church edifice very long, however, but sold it, when it was used as a storeroom. They were then without a house of worship, sometimes holding their meetings in private houses, sometimes in the schoolhouse, and sometimes in one of the other churches. The Methodist Protestant Church generously let them occupy their house, which they used for a long time. Thus matters continued for several years, until 1854. when Rev. Lemuel Herbert was, by the conference, appointed to this Circuit, which, at that time, contained three appointments, viz., Cardington, Bethel and Boundary. Mr. Herbert, being an energetic and perseverins man, undertook the task of building a church building, which, in addition to his ministerial and pastoral labors, he successfully accomplished. The house then built is the one now occupied by the Presbyterian Church, and was finished and duly dedicated to the service of God by Professor Merrick, of Delaware.

About this time, or perhaps a little subsequent, several men of means and prominence, of the Methodist faith, bought property and moved to Cardington. Among them were John Shur, and George Rose and their families, with some others, and from this time the Methodist Episcopal Church became a power in the place. A protracted meeting followed the dedication, resulting in a number of conversions, and additions to the church. From this time, it may be said with propriety that the Methodist Episcopal Church became the leading denomination of Cardington. After using the church edifice some fifteen or more years, and the membership becoming strong in numbers and finances, and the church building beginning to need repairs, the subject of erecting a new hou.se of worship began to be agitated.

Some parties outside of the church, men of means, were reported to have said that we needed a handsome edifice, and that they would give $500 each, making 82,000, to the church tliat would build a handsome brick edifice, costing §8,000 or S10,000. In view of the circumstances, the Trustees of the parsonage called a meeting of the Trustees of both parsonage and church, and made a proposition to sell the parsonage and purchase a property on the corner of Marion and Walnut streets, for S4,500. The proposition was accepted, and the property purchased, thus creating a debt of $2,000 or more, which hung heavily on the hands of the society for several years, but was finally paid. In 1872, the late lamented L. B. Gurley was appointed to this charge, and, being a " new church man," thought it would never do to lose the §2,000 subscription. He went to work in circulating a subscription, and was successful in obtaining the disciplinary amount, in order to let the contract. He remained three years, and superintended the building of the edifice. It is a beautiful structure, and said to be inferior to none in the North Ohio Conference. Its cost was $12,000. The parsonage adjoining is valued at $3,000, making the whole worth $15,000, and a not less important consideration is, that it is all paid for. The completion of this enterprise appears to have been the closing up of a long and useful life, on the part of Mr. Gurley, who has since gone from this labor to his reward. At the dedication of this edifice, by Bishop Foster, it was named Gurley Chapel, in honor of the one who took such an active part in securing it to the society. Mr. Gurley was succeeded by a young man. Rev. James Henry, who also remained three years. He was a young man of fine appearance, of undoubted piety, of sound judgment, and strong magnetic powers, and his three years were years of continued prosperity and success. Persons were converted through his labors, and added to the church by hundreds. During his administration a new brick church at Bethel was built. This is a fine edifice for the amount of money it cost. The value of church property at Bethel was reported at Quarterly Conference to be $5,200, and all paid for. The value of the church property at both points is $20,200. The number of members at the two appointmehts is 410. This, it is said, is the largest membership, with the exception of Mansfield, of any work in this conference. Rev. R. McCaskey is the present Pastor.

The Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cardington, J. B. Waring, reports the average attendance at seventy-five, the number of teachers at nine. The former Superintendent of Sabbath school at Bethel, Dr. Benson, gives the following statement : Present Superintendent, H. Cecil; number of scholars enrolled, 130; average attendance, 100. A goodly number of Sabbath school papers are taken, and the school seems decidedly prosperous.

The Christian Church was a very early organization in Cardington ; but there is now no authentic information ks to its history. As early as 1841, this society had an organization, and held regular meetings. In the winter of 1842, this society held a union protracted meeting with the Protestant Methodist Church, which resulted in considerable accessions to their membership. The church had hitherto been without a regular place of worship ; but, under the impulse of the revival, the society set about securing this desideratum. In the following year, aided by several of the Universalist belief, the society erected a comfortable building on the corner of Main and Water streets. At one time, this church had quite a numerous membership in the county, and this village seemed to be the rallying-point of the denomination. At this time, the church seemed to be in a flourishing condition, promising to grow into the first importance among the churches. In addition to Benjamin Grandy and wife, Parley Cady and wife, Adin Tucker, wife and daughters, Dorasmus Chandler and wife, and some others, Peter Doty, Joseph Sellars, and other prominent citizens united with this church. One of their ministers, and T. L. Saulsbury, a prominent man among this denomination, moved here. Since then, however, the change has been complete. Of the old organization, only Mr. Cady is left, and the old building, moved a short distance from its original location, is used as a dwelling.

A Presbyterian Church was organized, according to the record in this village, July 4, 1851, under the name and title of the First Presbyterian Church of Cardington, with seven members, viz., James Harrison and wife, James Gregory and wife, Israel Hite and wife, and J. G. Arbuckle. Harrison, Gregory and Hite were elected Elders. The organization was accomplished by Rev. Henry Van Deman, of Delaware, Ohio. By death and removal their numbers were so reduced that, in 1860, Mrs. Sarah Gregory only remained to represent the church. In September, 1860, the organization was " perpetuated," as the records term it, under the supervision of the organizer. Rev. Mr. Van Deman. William Paris and wife, William Cunningham and wife, united, making, with Mrs. Gregory, five members in all. William Paris was elected Elder. Additions have been made from time to time, and there are now some twenty-eight members. James B. Clark, George R. Cunningham, T. W. Long and John Campbell are Elders. Subsequently, after the Methodist Episcopal Church commenced worship in their new house, their old church building was sold to the Presbyterians, and by them enlarged, reconstructed and made beautiful, inside and out. A protracted meeting was held, and a goodly number united, so that they now number fifty-two members. At present, they have no pastor, but are supplied by Rev. Mr. March, of Marysville. Their church property is valued at $2,000.

The Sunday school was organized in 1874, after the repair of the church. The number of scholars enrolled is 100 ; average attendance, 75 ; value of library, $50; number of classes, 11; teachers, same number. The school is in a very prosperous condition. The Sabbath school of this church makes a little better showing than either of the others, although it probably is the weakest of the three churches.

In 1867, Rev. S. Altman, a minister of the United Brethren Church, held a protracted meeting in the Methodist Protestant Church of this place, and to all appearance was successful in getting up a genuine and sweeping revival of religion. The meeting was of several weeks" continuance. The best ministers of the connection were brought into requisition, among them Bishop Weaver, and the altar for many nights was crowded with penitents. Many professed saving faith. A class of persons were professedly converted that had never before been reached ; I mean our business men, and for a time it seemed that the citadel of Satan must be taken. It was said a $10,000 church must be built, and the best minister in the Conference must minister at the altar. The meeting closed ; a church of near half a hundred members was organized, and officers appointed, but, for some cause the society was not formed here.

The German Lutheran is a small organization in the west end of town. It was organized in 1868 by F. G. Edward Knauth. They have a neat place of worship, valued at $1,100. They have twenty-eight members, over whom the Rev. S. Hunsicher presides as Pastor. They have services on alternate Sundays. The statistics of the Sunday school are as follows : Scholars enrolled, 20 ; average attendance, 15 ; number of classes, 5 ; number of teachers, 5.

The Catholic Church formed an organization here about 1870. They have a small brick edifice, 24x30 feet. They have no regular service, but are supplied by Father Pilgrim, of Delaware, at irregular periods. Their congregation and denomination is compo.sed of sixteen families, and numbers about eighty persons.

The Cardington Lodge of Odd Fellows. No. 194, was instituted March 9, 1852, by W. G. Williams, M. W. G. M., with John Andrews, J. J. Richards, J. W^. Likens, J. R. West, Adam Wolfe, J. W. Place, L. Carpenter, David Smith and George Granger as charter members. The first officers were George Granger, N. G. ; F. E. Phelps, Sec. ; Ruben Bunker, Per. Sec. ; C. T.White,Treas.

Their first hall was in the building that stood on the northeast corner of Main and Marion streets. They occupied this hall until 1860, when the Starr building was moved on to the southeast corner of these streets, on to a lot owned by the society, and the second story was fitted up for their ijeception. They moved into it at once and made their home here until the destructive fire of 1875. swept that corner, destroying the hall with all its contents, occasioning a loss to the order of $1,200. In the following year, when the Chase and Beatty Block was built, the society put on the third story at an expense of $7,000, including the furniture of the hall, a sum of money which they had in the treasury of the order save perhaps, $100. The lodge room is 42x72 feet, with commodious committee and paraphernalia rooms on one side, opening out of the main hall. The whole is finely fitted up aod is claimed to be the finest of its kind in Central Ohio. This lodge has about 122 members, has paid out $14,000 for the relief of the members, besides some $2,500 for charitable purposes, independent of the order. In addition to their hall, the lodge owns a lot with 53 feet front, on the southeast corner of Main and Marion streets, which is valued at $5,000.

The Whetstone Encampment, No. 95, was instituted June 3, 1867, by William Slater, M. W. G. Patriarch, with John Andrews, Levi Reichelderfer, A. H. Grant, A. W. Bartlett, S. Brown, J. H. Fiedler, David Smith, Lewis Openheimer, W. F. Armstrong, A. V. Conklin and D. B. Kinsell as charter members. It numbers about sixty-two members.

Cardington Lodge, No. 384, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized February 5, 1867, with C. H. McElroy, W. S. Paul, H. S. Green, J. W. Marvin, M. L. Mooney, M. Burns, G. W. Bell, A. Weathersby, Andrew Caton, W. A. Hance, A. H. Shunk, as charter members. Their first hall was in the north end of the Enterprise Block, but they have recently moved into the Brooks & Parvis Brothers' Block. The first officers were : C H. McElroy, W. M. ; W. S. Paul, S. W. ; A. H.

In 1835, Cook and Shunk donated to the township one hundred rods of land, in a square piece, for a cemetery. This was situated just northeast of the bend in the river, and is now the southeast corner of the new cemetery. In April, 1803, Leumas Cook set apart fifteen and a half acres of land, west of the old cemetery, and adjoining; it on the north and west, lying along the north bank of the river. This was surveyed out into 108 lots, and forms a pleasant place for the purpose for which it was designed.