Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 50, 1897

The Discovery of Natural Gas and its Effects Upon THE Development of Madison County, Together With Other Matters of Interest - Important Manufacti'ring Establishments.

The excitement caused by the discoverv of natural gas in tlie surrounding towns of Kokomo, Marion, Xoblesville and other localities, caused the Anderson people to awaken from their lethargy. After considerable discussion, pro and con, had been indulged in by the leading citizens of the town, in reference to the formation of a company for the purpose of exploring for the fluid which has made Anderson so famous, a company was finally organized. A meeting was held in the court house on Tuesday evening, January 25, 1887, at which a stock organization with a capital of $20,000 was effected. A board of directors was elected as follows : Colonel Milton

Among the many objects set forth in the articles of association. Article No. 2 reads as follows : " The object of the formation of this company' shall be for the purpose of sinking or constructing one or more gas wells by drilling, or otherwise, with a view to the discovery of natural gas, or other products of the earth, and the furnishing of a supply of the same for all purposes to which it may be adapted or utilized. The term of e.xistence of the corporation shall be for fifty years."

The initiatory steps to the organizatiori of this company were taken on the 17th of January, 18S7, and articles of association were signed by the following named gentlemen : Lafayette J. B.-irr, G. D. Searle, C. K. McCullough, Thomas McCullough, Harr)' Brelsfoid, R. P. Grimes, George C. Forrey, E. P. Schlater, Nichol & Makepesce, J. F. Wild, A. B. Buck, E. T. Brickley, James Wellington, Peter Fromlet, Harrison Canaday, Joseph Schwabacher, Patrick .Skehan, George Matthews, J. F. Brandon, Samuel Kiser, W. T. Durbin, I. E. May, J. A. Munchof, Sansberry & Sansberry, N. C. McCullough, William Crim, Milton S. Robinson, John H. Terhune, J. L. Kilgore, Thomas M. Norton, L. D. Adams, Thomas J. McMahan, A. J. Brunt. W. L. Maynard, B. L. Bing, W. A. Kittenger, H. J. Daniels, F. W. Makepeace and H. J. Bronnenberg.

The above list comprises the names of the citizens who were at that time residents of the sleepy country town of Anderson, who had the courage to go down into their pockets and risk the uncertainty of the development of the product for which they were hunting, and to them is due much of the honor of starting Anderson upon its career of wealth and prosperity. After much discussion as to the proper place to sitk a well, the matter was brought to "ahead" by Mr. John Hickey, who kindly offered to donate the ground upon which to drill the first gas well. This was at a point immediately south of the Midland Railway station near Meridian street. In a few days after the organization of the Board had been effected, a contract was made with Mr. John Porter to drill the well, and he immediately set about his work. The progress of the drilling was watched patiently by the people ; daily measurements were taken and announced through the press of the depth to which the drill had penetrated, and.

finally on Wednesday morning. March 31, 1887, the stockholders of the company and the people of Anderson were rejoiced to hear from Mr. Porter that he had succeeded in striking a gushing gas well. The drill in its descent had passed through 130 feet of drift, 200 feet of Niagara limestone, 512 feet of Hudson river shale, and then immediately entered Trenton rock for a distance of several feet, the total depth of the well being 847 feet.

This was the beginning of Anderson's greatness. The people went wild with e.xcitcment. It was heralded throughout the country in the daily reports of the newspapers, and the dispatches of the Associated Press, and in all the leading dailies of the United States, and it was but a short time before people from all points of the compass began to flock to Anderson, some as sight-seers and some as capitalists, who were looking for a place in which to invest their money. For weeks a pipe was attached to the well through which the gas was allowed to flow without hindrance, being ignited and sending the flames 100 feet into the air, and at the same time making a noise like the running of a heavy railroad train. This attracted strangers and passers by, ^vhose attention was called to the town from the fact of its being designated as a natural gas town. The people for fully one month after this find were seemingly unconscious of the great benefit that might be derived by placing the gas under control so as to use it in their houses. At last sentiment began to crystalize in the minds of the leading busine?s men, and steps were taken to place the fluid in such shape that it could be used for the benefit of the citizens and manufacturers. On the following 24th of May, a meeting was called at the court house for the purpose of organizing a Board of Trade. George Xichol was called to the chair, and E. E. Hendee acted as secretary. A letter was read from a Connecticut manufacturer in the line of augurs, bits and shovels, who desired to locate in the Indiana gas belt, and who wanted to know what inducements were being offered by the citizens of Anderson in that direction. This was the first inquiry made about the location of a manufacturing establishment.

A committee was formed to formulate by-laws, rules and articles of association, and after due deliberation reported such articles and code of bj'-laws, which ^vere adopted. On the following Tuesday evening another meeting of the Board was held at the law office of Chipman & Chipman. It was attended by George Nichol, H. J. Bionnenberg, J. W. Lovett, J. L. Kilgore, I. N. Hoover, Harrison Canaday, Chas. L. Henry, Jas. Wellington, W. S. Diven, and Samuel M. Hodson. Geo. Nichol was unanimously chosen president of the board, and M. A. Chipman secretary. At this meeting a proposal from a glass manufacturer was received and discussed informally, but no action was taken in the matter.

This appeared to be the end of all united efforts toward locating manufacturing establishments until late in the fall, when communication was opened between the Board of Trade and the Fowler Nut and Bolt Works of Buffalo, N. Y., which resulted in that establishment removing its plant to this city. This was the first establishment in Anderson to utilize natural gas for the purposes of manufacturing. Immediately thereafter the Union Strawboard Company, through negotiations with the Board of Trade, located its extensive plant on the Hazlett farm north of the city. This was soon followed by the Anderson Flint Bottle Company, of Butler, Pennsylvania. The American Wire Nail Company, of Covington, Ky., and the Knife & Bar Works of Dayton, Ohio. Following these many other large and extensive plants were built up in different parts of the city, the names of which are given in detail in another place in this volume.

Prominent among those who stood in the front and who did the most toward bringing these industries to this localitj' were George Nichol, the Hon. Chas. L. Henry, Hon. Jno. W. Lovett, James Wellington, J. L. Kilgore, Henry J. Bronnenberg, Milton S. Robinson, L. M. Cox and .Stephen Metcalf. The first donation of land for manufacturing purposes was made by James W. Sansberry, Sr., Thomas J. McMahan and John W. Lovett, who owned the ground upon which the Fowler Bolt Works were located. They not only donated the site but a gas well also as an inducement for its establishment here.

The newspapers of Anderson, the liKUctiii , the JlcralJ, and Democrat , it must not be forgotten, did heroic work in their columns to induce manufacturers and other people to locate in the city, as is plainly evident by a perusal of their columns published in those days.

Anderson, being the chief city in Madison county, was an inviting fiqld for capitalists, who were anxious to put in mains for the purpose of supplying fuel to the people for domestic use. The first parties to make a proposition to the City Council in order to procure a franchise, was a company of Ehvood financiers together with one or two persons living in Anderson. Gustave Cramer, Patrick O'Brian and H. C. Calloway, of Elwood, together with Frank A. Vogt and Rev. F. C. Weichmann, of Anderson, presented a petition to the City Council, on Monday, the 24th of January, 1887, asking for an franchise of the streets for a term of ten years, with the privilege of piping the city with natural gas. As an inducement to the City Council to grant their charter, they proposed to furnish the school houses, churches and all the public buildings free fuel for the entire period for which their franchise ran, provided the gas would hold out during tliat time. There was quite an opposition to tliis scheme on the part of the leading business men of Anderson, prominent among whom were William Crim, Col. M. S. Robinson, N. C. McCuIlough, Thomas J. McMahan, H.J. Daniels, John W. Lovett, J. W. Sansberry, Sr., LaFayette J. Burr, E. P. Schlater and W. T. Durbin, who attended the meeting of the Council on that occasion and made a fight against the granting of the charter. The Council was called to order by the Hon. J. F. McClure, the Mayor, and the petition was read after which Dr. Jonas Stewart, a member from the Second ward, took the floor in opposition to the granting of the charter and made the effort of his life. Several members of the Council favored the proposition, and after a thorough debate on the subject, and considering the opposition of the business men, on a vote being taken, the measure was lost, and thus Anderson was saved from a corporation getting its clutches upon the fuel lying beneath its streets. And to Dr. Jonas Stewart the honor of the defeat of the scheme is due.

The excitement at Anderson growing out of the discovery of natural gas, was caught up by other towns and villages throughout the county, and on the 14th of Februarj-, 1887. a company was organized at Pendleton and funds to defray the expenses of boring for natural gas were raised and a stock company was organized. The following prominent citizens of Pendleton were chosen directors of this company : B. F. Amien, J. R. Clark, Dr. O. W. Brownback, W. G. Campbell, W. H. Lewis, and J. W. Zeublin. This company was known as the Pendleton Natural Gas and Oil Company, and was capitalized at $15,000. They immediately contracted for the drilling of a well, and in a short time thereafter were success-

A gas company was also formed at Summitville about the same time. Alexandria was the place at which gas was first discovered, in Madison county, and it was also there that the first gas company was organized. A full and detailed account of these matters will be found in the history of the different townships in the county, in another part of this work.

M. A. Chipman, the first secretary of the Anderson Board of Trade, was very active in his efforts to attract the attention of capitalists and manufacturers to the gas fields. Much is due to his energy in the initiative steps of locating manufactories in this county. He was succeeded by Stephen Metcalf, and later by A. A. Small, who did valuable service in the good work, John F. McClure being treasurer and a valiant worker.

Hon. Charles L. Henry was the " head center " of all. He took the lead in donating ground and procuring subsidies. He had in his office at the time Stephen Metcalf, now editor of the Anderson Herald , who was an untiring worker for Anderson, and devoted much time and good service to the cause.

The Board of Trade was composed of men who worked day and night for Madison county's growing greatness without compensation, and at the same time going deep into their pockets as individuals to help the cause along.

Mr. George Xichol was the continuous President of this organization, and to his sound sense and good business judgment is largely due its grand aciiievements as a promoter of enterprise.

The Hon. John H. Terhune, James Wellington, John L. Forkner, H. J. Bronnenberg, W. S. Diven, John W. Lovett, S. M. Keltner, John F. McClure, Stephen Metcalf, Isaac D. Bosworth, C. L. Henry, were nightly attendants at the meetings of the board, and at midnight on more than one occasion factories have been "signed up and located" when the unsuspecting public was asleep and surprises sprung upon it the following morning by a vigilant press.

In the month of May, 1887, a new impetus was given the gas excitement by the opening of an immense well known as "Vesuvius," in the McCuIlough park, at the east end of Eigiith street. This was the largest well in the gas belt and was the wonder of the nineteenth century. It was visited by thousands of people from all parts of the United States. The railroads ran excursions from all directions to witness the wonder. A continuous blaze of fire was kept pouring out a volime into White river, making a seething foam of fire and water, accompanied by a roaring noise equal to Niagara, for months.

After the development of the last named monster well, which was the private enterprise of Neal C. McCullough, the problem of the abundant supply of natural gas was solved and capital began to pour in, and town lots began to take a boom. Lots that had previously been a drug in the market at two and three hundred dollars, at once commanded from five hundred to a thousand. But little progress was made then, however, in building until late in the fall, when the first factory located; when the building craze took possession of the people and every idle or surplus dollar was invested in lots and residences to rent, and many new and handsome business blocks began to spring up.

No effort was made to utilize the gas for domestic purposes until the summer had been well advanced, when C. T. Doxey who had in the meantime purchased the stock of the original holders in the company that made the exploration for gas, combined his interests with N. C. McCullough, who owned the artificial gas plant, and formed a company to pipe the city for domestic use.

Much talk and speculation was indulged in as to whether or not the Standard Oil Companj' was not really the " power behind the throne," and prophecies were made that in the final outcome Anderson would be in the hands of an " Octupus." The newspapers took it up, agitation became rife upon the streets, and while the company was laying the mains, street talk was indulged in quite freely. The people demanded that a price be named to consumers, which was refused by the officers of the company, and this added to the distrust in the minds of the people. The formation of a rival company was fully discussed which resulted in a meeting being held at the court house on the 13th of July, 1887, when a Citizens' Company was formed with $50,000 capital, whereby each stock- holder who paid into the capital stock the sum of $50, was allowed the free use of gas for one house or business room. By this move the Standard Oil Company was driven from the field and disposed of all its leases.

John L. Forkner was elected president, G. M. Ballard, secretarj', and L. M. Cox, treasurer of the company, the directory being composed of Chas. L. Henry, H. J. Bronnenberg, A. C. Davis, G. M. Ballard, John I^. Forkner, Jonathan Jones and L. M. Cox.

The company at once put down a well on the land of Harrison Canaday, who donated the site near the residence of Hon. J. \V. Sansberry. In August they were rewarded by striking a wonderful flow of gas. Mains were at once laid in the streets and Anderson had two full-fledged companies from which to supply the people with fuel.

The Citizens' Company was a great factor in advertising Anderson. It was the means of giving Anderson what no other city on the globe could boast of - free fuel. The franchises issued by the company attached to the real estate and were transferable with the same, and was a great inducement for people coming here to invest in homes.

These two companies continued as competitors until September, 1893, when the Doxej' plant was absorbed by the Citizens' Company, thus ending a six years' struggle of turmoil and strife between the two organizations.

To the Citizens' Gas Companj' more than any other cause can be attributed the wonderful tide of immigration to Anderson. Many who wished to live in ease, who had retired from business were attracted here on account of the free fuel, and made their homes in our midst, whilst capital was also lured here by this inducement.

Albert Cole drilled the first well for the Citizens' Company, getting a fine flow. He was considered a "mascot" for the organization, and continued in its employ for a long while as a driller.

and healed up the sore places made by a bitter warfare, and enabled the different interests to present a solid and substantial front for Anderson and her future.

It was the original intention of the writers to give a brief sketch of every manufacturing establishment in the county, and in order to obtain this information, postal cards 'were addressed to the secretary of everv establishment in the county, some of which met with a response, while others were ignored. To those who took the pains to give us the desired information, we give brief space, while as to others of which we can secure no data, we are obliged to content ourselves with giving them a passing notice.

Among those who answered our communication is the Anderson Knife and Bar Company. This establishment was organized by W. H. Manning and S. E. Farmer of Dayton, Ohio, who located in Anderson in September, 188S, employing a capital of $25,000 and eighteen employes. William Rogers, of Philadelphia, is the president, and E. E. Lovejoy, of Lowell, Massachusetts, secretary and treasurer. This company manufactures all kinds of machine knives for wood working, paper cutting, shear blades and fly bars. E. W. Randolph is the resident manager.

The Colli iiihia Encaustic Tile Company was organized by Indianapolis parties, who located in the south-eastern part of the cit}' of Anderson, where they manufacture unglazed tiles for floors and a full line of enameled tiles for hearths and mantels; also opaque and embossed enamel tiles. Mr. B. O. Haugh is the president, George Lilly, vice-president and treasurer, and Harry Haugh, secretary.

Among the many public buildings for which this firm has furnished decorated floor tiles, they mention the court houses at Grand Rapids, Mich.; Uniontown, Pa.; Cadiz, Ohio; Ottumwa, Iowa ; Hartford City, Ind. ; Winamac, Ind.; Wapakoneta, Ohio ; San Antonio, Texas ; Olympia, Wash. ; Fresno and Auburn, Cal.

Union Glass Company. - These works were established in Collingwood, a suburb of Anderson in the month of August, 1890. Several extensive buildings were erected on South Pearl street. On the 20th of December in the same year, the

Mr. Forbes Holton is the President and General Manager of the concern which enjoys the reputation of being one of the finest manufactories of window glass in the United States. Among the favorite brands which are most widely known to the trade are the Arm and Hammer brand, and the American window glass.

American Wire Nail Company. - One of the largest manufactories of steel rods and wire nails in the United States was established at Covington, Kentucky, in the year 1875. In 1888, attracted by the benefits accruing from the use of natural gas, the capital stock was increased from $60,000 to $300,000, and the plant was removed to Anderson. The officers of the company are L. H. Gedge, President; F. C. Gedge, Vice- President; C. P. Garvey, Secretary, and E. J. BufHngton, Treasurer.

The daily output of the mill is 200 tons of wire rods, 200 tons of plain wire, 75 tons of galvanized wire, 8,()00 kegs of wire nails, and 500 kegs of fence staples.

Anderson Iron and Bolt Company. - This institution was incorporated on the 6th daj' of October, 1800, and is the only institution in the city that is made up exclusivelj' of Anderson capital. The originators of the concern were L. S. Taylor, N.J. Pilger, R. J. Walton, J. L. Forkner, W. S. Diven, T. J. McMahan, John R. Page, A. J. Brunt, William Leib, Charles Leib, George Nichol, A. I. Makepeace, J. E. Canaday, J. J. Netterville, L. M. Cox, C. S. Burr, C. T. Doxey, Lafe Swank.

The capital stock is $75,000. The officers are C. T. Doxey, President; John R. Brunt, Secretary and General Manager; A. J. Brunt, Vice-President, and J. L. Forkner, Treasurer.

Indiana Box Company. - This organization has a capital stock of $25,000 and was located in Anderson in September, 1891. The concern manufactures boxes for the glass factories

The officers are H. Park, of ISIuskegon, Michigan, President; Thomas Munroe, Vice-President; J. F. Mclhvraith, Secretary and Treasurer. The company employs about 100 hands on an average.

iVatioiial Ti)i Plate Coinpa>ty. - This company was organized in July, 1894, and became legally incorporated during the same year. The plant was located in North Anderson. The capital stock is $150,000. Four hundred people are employed, having a weekly pay-roll of many thousand dollars.

The officers are Philip Matter, of Marion, Indiana, President; W. H. Donner, Secretary and Treasurer, and Joseph I. Irwin, of Columbus, Indiana, Vice-President. Mr. Donner is also the General Manager.

The American Straw Board Company- - This factory was established in 1889 by C. Fairbanks, of Terre Haute, C. B. Fatout, of Lima, Ohio, and ^Yilliam Baker, of Akron, Ohio, with a capital stock of $500,000. It was originally known as the Union Straw Board Company, but was reorganized under its present name. Mr. C. L. Crum, of Winchester, Virginia, superintended the construction of the building, and was general manager of the plant after it was placed in operation for nearly two years, when he was succeeded by !M. R. Williams, the present incumbent. It is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the country, and has done a large and profitable business from the day of its completion.

The Schofic/d Bolt Works. - This was the first manufacturing establishment to locate in Anderson after the discovery of natural gas. It came from Fowlersville, near Buffalo, New York, in November, 1877. It ^vas originally known as the Anderson Bolt Company and ^vas owned by Fowler & Sons, of Buffalo, New York. It was incorporated as a company under the name of the Fowler Bolt Works. L. S. Taylor was the first manager but was succeeded by E. S. Fowler who had charge of the plant until it was sold to its present owners in 1895, and became the Schofield Bolt Works.

the firm name of Lambert Bros. & Co., with a capital stock of $2,000, at which time they began the manufacture of buggy neck yokes, with a force of six men and a few boys. The firm was soon afterwards changed to J. H. Osborne & Co., and a line of hardware specialties was added to tiie business. In 1890, J. H. Osborne withdrew from the firm and it again assumed the name of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company. In 1891 the plant was consumed by fire entailing a loss of $15,000 with an insurance of $12,000. New buildings were at once erected, and in 1893 fully covered 60,0(10 square feet of floor surface. In 1S94. the Lambert gasoline engine was perfected, and patented, and was at once added to their line of manufactures. In 1894 the company was reorganized and incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 with John W. Lambert, President, Geo. Lambert, Vice-President, and C. A. Lambert, Secretary and Treasurer. The plant no\v was removed to Anderson where the buildings were erected in what is known as the Evalvn addition. About three hundred men and boys are employed annually.

Peiiiisv/vai/ia G/ass Coiiipanv- - This company was originally located at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and was removed to Anderson in the year 1888, since which time it has been one of the leading industries of the city, employing 500 people at their two plants with a weekly pay-roll of $1,500.

Anderson Paper Company. - This company was organized in 1892, with E. J. Blake as President, and A. Reynolds as Secretarj- and Treasurer. The present officers are C. Fairbanks, President; M. R. Williams, Secretary; \V. T. Durbin, Treasurer and General Manager. The plant is situated in Ha/.lewood addition, and does a large and extensive business.

Anderson Glass Company. - This company was organized in North Anderson in 1890 by Philip Matter and G. W. Burke, of Marion, and Charles L. Henry, of Anderson, with a capital stock of $200,000. It is one of the largest manufactories of window glass in the gas belt. It employs 400 men annually and has a weekly pay-roll of $2,500.

The Anderson Flint Bottle Company. - This was the first glass factory to locate in Anderson, and came from Butler, Penn., in 1888. It has a capital stock of $00,000, and employs

100 people under Mr. Alexander P. McKee, Secretary-, Treasurer and General Manager. It has a weeklj* pay-roll of .$1,500. It was through the influence of Conrad Smith, one of the large stockholders, that this plant was located here. He, as well as Mr. McKee, is well known to the glass trade throughout the United States.

Philadelphia Quartz Company. - This institution is situated in the south-eastern portion of the city. It came from Philadelphia in 1890. It has a capital stock of $100,000, and is owned by T. and J. Elkington and Ephraim Smith. The resident manager is \V. H. Stanton. The company manufactures silicate of soda. They employ about sixty people and have a weekly pay-roll of more than $500.

The Cansjield Stationery Company. - This company came from New York in January, 1893, and has been doing a thriving business in the manufacture of box files and stationers' supplies. Mr. Samuel H. Cansfield is the President of the company, and General Manager of the concern. The product of this factory is sold in every State in the Union and in Canada.

The Clyde Windou) Glass Company of Frankton, is one of the busy industries of Madison county. Its capital stock is $50,000. It employs one hundred men. Mr. M. J. Blodgett is President, F. Dussler, Secretary, and John Lux, Treasurer. The works were moved from Clyde, Ohio, in 1890, after which place the company was named. It was incorporated in 1890.

United Windov: Glass Compa?iy at \\'est Alexandria. - This company has a capital stock of $250,000, and employs 225 men under the charge of Superintendent John A. Sweat. T. D. Catlin is president and treasurer, and W. T. Gray, vice-president. The company manufactures window glass and does a large business.

The Alexandria Windozv Glass Company. - This company was organized by Harper and Cruzen, of Findlay, Ohio, in 1889. These gentlemen were unsuccessful in the operation of the plant, and it was purchased at assignee's sale by Sylvanus Free and others, since which time it has been successfully operated by the present company, composed of Henry W. Heer, M. Miller and Sylvanus Free, under the firm name of the Alexandria Window Glass Company. They have a capital stock of $40,000, and employ about 100 people. The factory has a large output and has a large weekly pay-roll.

We are sorry tliat all the manufacturing establishments to whom we sent postal cards, did not see the importance of being fully represented in this work. While we have been unable to give an extended notice, we have endeavored to make mention of ever}' factory in the county.

Among other factories of importance are the Sefton Mfg. Company, Cathedral Glass Company, Wright Shovel Company, Victor Window Glass Company, Arcade File Works, Anderson Forging Company, Coping and Glass Cresting Company, Raible Bros'. Box factory. Anderson Paint Company, Wooley Foundry Company, Haugh-Kurtz Steel Company, Electric Power Company, Irondale Steel and Iron Company, Fisher Cradle & Snath Company, Gedge Bros'. Roofing Company,. Anderson Pottery Company, Anderson Broom Works, The Gould Steel Company.