Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 29: Logansport's Early Industries and Factories of, 1913

We have given a brief sketch of the **01d Water Mills" and we'll here notice other industries of the past and the causes of their decline or abandonment. It is interesting to study the rise, decline and fall of nations and the causes operating to produce such results. It is, in a lesser degree, interesting to study the local industries and factories that have grown up in Logansport, prospered for a season and then been abandoned, and to study the causes producing these changed conditions in the onward march of civilization and to philosophize upon what changes may be wrought in the future, although history is supposed to deal with facts; and speculation and contemplation of what may be is the province of the philosopher, yet there is a philosophy of history that opens up a wide and interesting field for the historian. Many factories have been established in our city and from various reasons have ceased to be operated, some of these we will briefly mention before speaking of our present industries.

The first industry to be established in Cass county was a sawmill, erected by General Tipton on the south bank of Eel river near the foot of Tenth street and operated by water power,* of which previous mention has been made.

The first foundry for making iron castings was operated in the rear of a building that stood on the southwest corner of Court Park on Third street about the year 1838. Nathan Aldrich and Israel Neal ran a cabinet and furniture factory in a two-story frame building and in the rear they had a small furnace for making castings. **It was not, however, quite as large or modern in its equipment as the blast furnaces of the steel company in Gary or South Chicago."

The first hat factory in Logansport was operated by Harvey Brown in a small frame building that stood on Third street, about where the old cannon is now located in Court Park. He made wool and fur hats and large numbers of furs and peltries were purchased as the county then abounded in wild animals of all kinds. He would remove the fur and throw the skins away. There was a vat in the rear room where he prepared the composition for the hats and a drying and sales room was on the opposite side of the street. The usual price for a good fur hat was $5.00.

T. C. Mitchell, about 1865, operated a hat factory at 411-13 Broadway, in an old frame building on the lot where Otto Kraus is now located. He moved his factory across the street to 414 Broadway. Sam McElheny ran a blacksmith shop in front and in a frame building in the rear of the lot now occupied by Wiler & Wise dry goods store,

Mr. Mitchell manufactured fur and felt hats until about 1868, when he closed the factory and went into the shoe business with Chas. F. Ranch. The first cabinet factory was probably operated by David Patrick in a log house at what is now known as No. 216 Broadway, about 1829. Later a frame house was erected here which is still standing and in which Mr. Patrick lived until his death about 1885.

Daniel Redd ran a cabinet and furniture factory in the *'01d Seminary," northeast comer of Fourth and Market in 1839 and in that year moved his shop to the northeast corner of Sixth and Broadway, where McCaffrey *s grocery is now located.

About 1841 the Aldrich Bros, erected a building just east of the old Forest Mill on Eel river and equipped it for a foundry, the machinery of which was run by an under-shot or floating water wheel, placed I>erpendicular in the water near the bank and the only contrivance to deflect the water to the wheel was a small rock dam. It was operated only a few years and abandoned.

The first permanent and successful foundry in Logansport was constructed and operated by Edwards and Van Hauten, located on the south bank of Eel river, just west of the Sixth street bridge. This was in the early forties. ,

During the year 1841 Wm. T. S. Manly operated a furniture factory on Third street, south of North. He also made coffins and later moved his shops to the comer of Sixth and Broadway.

The Logansport Sash, Blind and Door Factory was operated by Geo. B^van in the fifties in a building that stood on the canal between Broadway and Market street.

In the early forties a Mr. Patch erected a large tanning establishment on the north side of Linden avenue, east of the old canal basin, on the square back of Zanger's present bakery. It was afterwards operated by a Mr. Kinsley and Mr. Wellerling of Michigan, and probably others, and in the sixties Elisha Dawes and Jos. Taylor conducted the business for a time. About 1870 they sold out to a Mr. Shaw and he to Mr. Sweeney, when the building was partially destroyed by fire and later the business was discontinued.

As early as 1850 Charles Luy ran a cooper shop at the southwest corner of Ninth and Erie avenue and in April, 1864, Chas. F. Thompson & Co. operated a large shop at this place, later by Miles & Torr and finally by Harry Torr alone, and for many years he did an extensive business and shipped barrels and cooperage to all the leading cities throughout the United States, but like all the other factories in wood, ceased its activities more than twenty years ago, owing to the scarcity of timber.

Wm. Arnold for many years operated a large cooper shop on Burlington avenue, south side, but it too, closed its doors many years ago. Gottlieb Schaefer on north Sixth street and Frederick Markert on Pleasant Hill street and possibly others, operated extensive cooper shops, but scarcity of material compelled them to cease operations extensive business for many years, and after the death of J. W. Henderson, his sons carried on the business with a store and sales room at 318 Fourth street, but within recent years this factory has closed up.

This was a large factory occupying over two acres of ground on the south side of Toledo street near Thirteenth. It was known as the Logansport Manufacturing Company and Chas. Kahlo was its first president and later A. J. Robinson became president and manager. The company was organized in the later sixties or early seventies. They employed a large number of men and shipped their product, consisting of hubs, spokes, felloes, poles, bows, etc., to all parts of the United States, and did a flourishing business for many years until the factory was totally consumed by fire July 13, 1893, and as timber was getting scarce it was never rebuilt. *

In December^ 1869, J. H. Tucker came to Logansport and commenced to manufacture plow handles in an old building at the foot of Market street, which had been occupied by Mr. Burrows as a furniture factory. He began in a small way with a capital of only $265.00 and employed only one man, but by push and energy he found he needed larger quarters and at the end of the year he rented a part of tho- Lincoln foundry at the southeast comer of Fifth and High street In May, 1870, he entered into a partnership with S. E. Howe under the firm name of Tucker & Howe, which continued until January, 1884, when Mr. Howe became exclusive owner and Mr. Tucker went to Mexico. In addition to the manufacture of wood work the firm did a general foundry and machine-shop business, having purchased the old Lincoln foundry building in 1876. The business of the firm, however, rapidly increased and a large two-story brick factory building was erected in 1874, opposite the foundry on the north side of High street, at a cost of $15,000 and one of the best arranged factories in the city, being fitted up with the latest improved machinery. This building was connected with the old building by a bridge or runway over High street. In 1884 Mr. Howe disposed of the stone foundry on the south side of the street and confined his attention exclusively to the handle trade, hard wood, etc., and shipped his products to all parts of the United States. This factory did an immense business and employed a large number of men for many years, but timber becoming scarce in this region, the factory was compelled to close about 1903 and John Hedde purchased the building, since which time it has been occupied as a storage room.

About 1846 Adkins Nash and Wm. Aldrich erected a large substantial two-story stone building at the southeast corner of Fifth and High streets and operated a woolen mill and later Mr. Nash built an addition on the east and ran a foundry and machine shop for many years. After Mr. Aldrich retired, S. B. Richardson operated the woolen mill and possibly others, but finally yielded to the centralization of capital and power.

of David Douglass and sister of Jesse C. Douglass, editor and writer. She, with others, were being shown through the new factory and she fell down the stairway and broke her neck. Later Wm. P. and Ed Lincoln purchased the business and they or others operated the shops until 1876, when Tucker & Howe bought the building for a plow han<Ue factory and machine shop.

This company was organized January 1, 1884, to manufacture grain drills. Jacob Kmg was the patentee of the drill, which was a first-class, popular machine. The company purchased the old Nash Lincoln foundry building, comer of Fifth and High streets, of S. E. Howe and began operations with a force of about twenty men and turned out 1,000 to 1,500 drills annually. In addition to the manufacture of drills the company operated the foundry and machine shop. But this, like many other small firms, was crowded out by the centralization of capital in the greater factories and ceased to operate after a few years. Since then the old building has been occupied by different parties as a machine and repair shop.

^ In the year 1849, S. & A. Kendall erected a substantial brick building at the corner of Berkley street and the railroad and did a general foundry and machine-shop business until 1851, at which time Chas. B.* Knowlton and B. F. Dow purchased the property and engaged in the manufacture of threshing machines until the building was destroyed by fire in 1861. The foundry was rebuilt the following year by Mr. Knowlton and operated by him until 1868, at which time D. D. Dykeman purchased a half interest and the firm thus formed operated the shops, confining their efforts largely to the manufacture of the ** Little Giant Water Wheel," invented by John T. Obenchain.

In 1875 Mr. Dykeman sold his interest to Wm. Dolan and the firm was known as Knowlton & Dolan, and in addition to their former work began the manufacture of roller mills and a full line of new roller process mill machinery patented by J. T. Obenchain. The firm did a prosperous business for many years and after the death of Mr. Knowlton, Mr. Dolan continued the business for some time and sold out to the American Dredge Co., who later moved to Fort Wayne and E. E. Pitman purchased the building, which is now occupied as a storage room by the Elliott Wholesale Grocery. Company.

. About 1878 Roger P. Spiker of Piqua, Ohio, and Geo. Harrison, erected a large brick building on the southeast corner of Fourteenth and Toledo streets, fitted it up with machinery and began the manufacture of buggies and wagons, but only continued five or six years, when they ceased operations and the building was destroyed by fire November 1, 1879.

John Jackson came to Logansport in 1850, worked for McElheny until 1854, when he bought out *' Black Ben'' on the west side of Sixth street, north of High, and soon after purchased the Kreider shops at 112-14 Sixth street and built the large three-story brick building now occupied by him as a livery stable and engaged extensively in the manufacture of wagons and buggies, but the large factory with labor-saving machines drove him out of business many years ago, but Mr. Jackson is still in our n^idst, an honored citizen, an octogenarian and a living witness to the changed conditions this industry has undergone since he opened a ''smith shop" sixty-three years ago.

Fred Boerger in the later, sixties and in 1872 A. Grusenmeyer and still later Joe Aman embarked in wagon and carriage making business, on Burlington avenue, south side.

In 1883 C. E. Holbruner and Miller Uhl opened quite an extensive wagon and carriage factory on Eel river at the foot of Market street. These and other wagon factories were conducted for many years, chiefly to accommodate the local trade, but all succumbed to improved methods and machinery.

J. N. Heddens in the later sixties ran an agricultural implement store at the comer of Pearl and Wall street and manufactured woodeif pumps quite extensively.

A. N. Parkhurst located in Logansport in 1871 and began the manufacture of his stone cylinder pump, of which he was the patentee. Mr. Raymond of Galesburg, Illinois, was for a time associated with him. They at first occupied a portion of Knowlton and Dolan's shop on Berkley street and the railroad, later he moved to the Nash Lincoln foundry building on High street near Fifth, where he continued to do a big business, selling his pumps to all the surrounding country until failing health caused his retirement some years ago and he soon after passed to his reward.

About 1891 Schuyler Powell erected a large building on the south side of Toledo street near Eleventh and fitted it up with the latest machinery for cutting and polishing granite and marble monuments and did a wholesale monument business. He bought the rough stone from the quarry, cut and polished the same and supplied a large territory surrounding Logansport with monuments and other ornamental stone. The business prospered until he left about 1902 for a larger field of action, having made a contract with the state to employ prison labor at the Michigan City prison, where he is still engaged in the monument business.

Probably the first brewery erected in Logansport was built in 1847-8 by Jacob Kline, near the northeast corner of Ninth and Erie avenue. This was only a small affair however, and a few years later he removed his establishment to the north bank of the Wabash river, between Second and Third streets, where he continued in business until about 1865, when he abandoned the old plant and erected a much lai^er brewery on the hill on Fifteenth street, north of the canal, now Erie avenue. This was successfully operated until in the seventies, when it was abandoned and later the building torn down.

Charles Luy, about 1855, started a brewery on Columbia street, west of North Sixth street. He also built a large brick residence just west of the brewery, now known as the Borges property. Mrs. Borges, being his only child, occupied this house for many years and until her death. Mr. Luy soon after sold out his brewery to Gotleib Schaefer and Frederick 3Iarkert, who soon found it was not a paying investment and it passed into ** innocuous desiietude.''

Logansport in the early days had two markets. The first one stood near the middle of the square bounded by Fourth and Fifth, Broadway and North streets. It was simply a roof resting on brick pillars ten to twelve feet apart. A cyclone in 1845 carried the roof away and it was never rebuilt. This Broadway market stood just back of Wiler and Wise's dry goods store. The building was about 150 feet long and 25 feet wide with a shingle roof. It fronted on the canal, now Fifth street. This old market was a great resort, for people all over the county and often from surrounding counties. In that day money was scarce, and what there was in circulation was of uncertain value. It consisted mostly of scrip, known as **red dog'* or **blue pup,'' and fluctuated in value, and the majority of the business transactions were effected by barter and trade. Farmers for miles around would congregate here on certain days to visit, gossip and trade. Not only the ordinary produce of a market was exchanged, but horses were traded, farms swapped. Busy candidates shook hands and sought votes and the fate of the country was decided every market day. The Lightning Express Packet on the old canal brought election or other important news of the outside world several weeks late and its arrival brought out crowds to this old market to get election returns. The market became a general resort for an exchange of news as well as goods, for

The second market was built in the early fifties. It was a brick structure about 150 feet long and 30 feet wide. It was located on Market street between Second and Third, where the street is still widened to form what was then known as market square. It served a useful purpose for some years, but as groceries became numerous and money plenty the market gradually ceased to be such a mart as in early days and was torn down in the sixties. Since then farmers with hay and other bulky goods congregate on certain streets designated by the city oflBcers.

A brief review of some of the pioneer and past industries of the county only emphasizes the statement that we live in an age of great activity, constant change and rapid prepress. The pioneer was content with the old-fashioned water wheel and mill buhr which have been supplanted by the turbine wheel and roller mill, where water is yet available. The cabinetmaker had no machinery in his shop unless it might be a turning lathe operated by his own right foot. All work was done by hand. The same conditions prevailed in the pioneer wagon or carriage shop. The wood work, including spokes, hubs and felloes, were all split or sawed out of the rough timber by the hand of the pioneer carriage maker. All the iron work being forged by the strong right arm of the smith, even the bolts, screws and nails were made in the shop. The pump maker bored out his pump stocks by the slow hand prqcess. The stone cutter would work with hammer and chisel for days to face and polish a monument. The carpenter ripped and dressed his lumber all by hand, matched his flooring, made his window sash and doors. What a change has taken place in the past half century. Now every piece that goes to make a table, chair or cabinet is dressed, the mortises and tenons all cut by machinery run by steam, gasoline engine or electric motor, and all the cabinetmaker of today has to do is to tack the pieces together. The same conditions prevail in the wagon or carriage factory ; each part is wrought out by machinery all complete, ready to be bolted together by machine-made screws, nails and bolts. The stock of a pump is bored in a few minutes by a steam auger that would require hours for the pump maker of pioneer days to complete. The movable and machine-driven granite chisel faces up a stone and the machine-driven polisher smoothes the surface in a few minutes, where hours would be required to perform the same feat, fifty years ago. It requires capital to install all this machinery and it does not justify a small operator to put in such expensive machinery and only a large business will justify such expensive machinery, hence Logansport cabinetmakers, wagon and carriage manufacturers, pump makers, coopers, handle makers, joiners and granite cutters and other crafts have been compelled to close up their small shops as they cannot compete with modern machinery, which can be more economically managed when run on a large scale. New inventions and the improvement of labor-saving machines in the onward march of civilization will . thus account for the long list of shops and industries that have been closed and abandoned in our city, a few of which have been mentioned, to give an object lesson of the changed conditions and their causes.