Randolph County, Indiana - Biographical sketches (3 of 3 so headed), 1882 (part 16 of 24)

The town was surveyed and platted some time between May and December, 1849, as the land was purchased in M&y and the plat was recorded in December of that year. The lots were offered some time in the winter or spring of 1850, and, among other purchasers, David Teeter became the owner of a lot in the projected town. Mr. Teeter was the brother of John Teeter, now who, with her large family, planted her stake in this wild forest nearly fifty years ago. At the time of that purchase (February, 1850), no buildings were on the original site of Union City but" the cabin and the stable of Augustus 'Loveland, as above described. |

There was a bouse north of Division street, between Howard and Columbia, not far from where old Mr. Carter used to live. It was: occupied by a Mr. Ricard. The eighty-acre tract was owned by a Mr. Crumrine, and Ricard rented it. Samuel Carter | bought the land afterward of Mr. Crumrine. On the lot purchased by him, David Teeter proceeded, shortly afterward (say March or April, 1850), to erect a dwelling. That edifice was | and is at the southeast corner of Oak and Howard, and has long been known as the Star House. It was the first building erected in Union City. Myr. Teeter "did not live to finish it. He had been feeble in health for some time, and he grew worse, and died in May, 1850. The house was sold to Benjamin Hawkins, and he finished it. Mr. Montgar lived in it awhile. No other house was built in 1850. The second house was put up for | Henry Debolt. It was a frame, and was built by John Teeter in the spring of Sol, and it stood near the present site of the | opera house.

The third was the house where Dr. Yergin now lives, a onestory frame building. replaced, in June, 1581, by an edifice with brick front. Daniel Weimar took the contract, and John Teeter and Hezekiah Fowler, brother to Gabriel Fowler, built it for John Frazier and Jack Downing, intending it for a saloon. They used it for a year, perhaps, and quit. Those two houses | were the only ones built in 1851; but in the spring of 1852, things began to open ont pretty lively. Four railroad tracks were rapidly concentrating upon that point in the woods on the Ohio | line, all of which were soon completed to Union City, but the | western end of the fourth (Union City to Logansport) had to wait for several years.

The people, in the spring of 1852, seemed to begin to realize the situation, and many appeared determined to become masters | of it, if possible. And so, early in 1852, settlers began to arrive. As already stated, there were just three dwelling houses - the original Loveland log mansion, the Star House (untinished), and the house built for "Henry Debolt. But by July, 1852, several houses had been erected and several residents were on the ground.

Alfred Lenox, one of the earliest residents, says that when he came, July 2 1852. the residents on both sides of the line, but mostly in Ohio, were Messrs. J. D. Carter, Montgar, Dr. John Diehl, W. A. C. Dixon. Jacob Livengood, John Hayes, Schultz | Hayes, Henry Debolt, - - - Miller, John Teeter, Seth Hoke, John Koons. J. J. Turpen came the same day - July 2, 1852.

The demon of liquor proved itself worthy of its ancient name on its first introduction into the town, created a great row. and caused the discharge of seventeen railroad hands soon after that grog shop was opened. That saloon and another, by means of some pretty energetic measures, were obliged to "dry up." Other attempts have been made to plant the fiery traffic in the midst of the places of business aud the quiet homes' of our citizens on the Indiana side, Lut without much success.

Abram Hoke, R. B. McKee, Dr. J. N. Converse, Benjamin Hawkins, Mr. Searl, Enos Turpen, Simeon Branham, William Anderson, Samuel L. Carter, R. A. Willson, and doubtless many others, came in 1852 or early in 1853.

Business first began nesr the point where the Deerfield & Greenville wagon road crosses the Dayton & Union Railroad. J. J. Turpen was weatherboarding there a building for a store in July, 185%. The building stands there yet. He set up the store of which he had charge, the goods belonging to Mr. Ward, contractor on the Piqua rosd, in August, "18: 52, the first on this ground, John D. Carter had built a saw-mill near the brewery, and cut the first log about April 1. 1802, _ Alfred Lenox had the first grocery, October to December, 1852, near the Deerfield | Crossing. He had a fine run of business, but his partner left, and, having no spare time himself (Lenox was working hands on the Dayton & Union Railroad), he sold the goods to a Greenville firm in December, 1852.

Mr. Livengood had built a boarding house, perhaps the first on that ground, just opposite the store building above mentioned, and east of the Deerfield road, and was boar ding scores of hands who were working on the railroads. That boarding house is one of the cluster east of the Deerfield road, at the extreme eastern end of Union City, Ohio, north of the railroad tracks.

About this time, the iron tracks, which had been so long in preparation, were nearing the point of conjunction at the new city in the woods at the line; and on Christmas Day, December 25, 1852, the Dayton & Union track-layers, straining a point and laying their iron almost any way so as only to get it down, reached the line with their iron, extending the rail about a foot npon the sacred soil of Indiana. The Indianapolis line also was near at hand. and before many days, the western track was in town also, reaching the State line from the west, and the two tracks were so joined that, on January 24, 1853, the first through passenger train went from Dayton via Union City to Indianapolis. There was quite a village growu up between the months of September and December, 1852, near the Deer- that place. But it did not doso, That point proved to be away from trade, and business left that spot and wandered westward. The dwellings, however, still remain (some dozen small ones), They are far east of the main town of Union City, Ohio, and seem almost, as it were, a village or hamlet by A strong effort was made to establish things in Ohio. near the quill, and brewery and foundry. Mr. Carter had built asaw-mill. David Fruits put up an immense four-story frame, intended for an opera house, hotel and what not, but he soon "got through his pile," and his great frame stood there for a time, projecting far into the upper air, and nicknamed the " deadening" by the neighbors, until at length somebody bought it, took one story from the top and finished "the rest for use [Orr House |. Before long, a grist-mill, a brewery, a foundry, etc., were erected, a store or two was started, and heroic efforts were made to hold the town in the Buckeye State. But all would not do. General business could not be made to "stick" over there, but it

In fact, the original intention of the projectors was that the town should be in Hoosierdom, and their plans could not be readily thwarted. Besides, to make assurance doubly sure, Mr. Smith purchased forty acres of land directly on the State line, on the Ohio side, and held it vacant, refusing to sell to anybody any of that tract, thus utterly preventing the Ohio side from building up to the business part of the Indiana side. And that gap between the two corporations continued for about twenty years, until the supremacy of Union City, Ind., was supposed to be so firmly established as to need to fear no rivalship.

The road from Bellefontaine was more tardy in its movements, and midsummer had nearly come before the line was complete between the capital of the Hoosier State to the city of the beautiful spring (Bellefontaine - beautiful fountain).

About January, 1853, Courtney Hayes started a grocery across the track from the old Orr Building (Ohio). There were several residences in Indiana, and a hotel or two had been started but no other business had yet begun there. In February, 1853, Benjamin Hawkins built a frame house where Stewart's (brick) erocery now stands, and put in a store of dry goods, and Jesse Paxson became his clerk.

[Jesse Paxson says Mr. Hawkins hauled his goods from Greenville, and that the store was opened out before the railroad reached this place. And Robert B. McKee, who came here in September, 1552, insists that Benjamin Hawkins was selling goods at Union when he came, in September, 1852. Mr. Pax. son would be most likely to be correct, because he built the house,

| and, when the goods began to arrive, Mr. Hawkins told Mr. Paxson to open out the goods and go to selling them as his clerk, without ever asking him beforehand or making any engagement with him. |

About the same time, Mr. Sear! built what is now the Novioy Building, east of the Branham House, for a grain warehouse. The grain business rose, almost at a bound, to immense proportions. The firm changed partners more or less. It was Seazrl, Searl & Hawkins, Converse, Paxson & Sear], ete.

Mr. Lenox says: "That warehouse handled more grain than any other in this city has ever done in the same time. Hundreds of wagon loads have been in waiting at once, and the grain men had to work day and night to keep up with the business. Grain was hauled from Recovery, from New Corydon, and from within six miles of Richmond."

The second warehouse was built by James White, but it was burned in 1857, before it had stooda year. Some men had been gambling there til] a late hour, and the building had in some way been set on fire. In half an hour after they left. the house was all in flames. It had been set on fire before. A kindled fire was found ina flour barrel up stairs, but it was put out. One man lost his all, $3,000. burned in a safe within the building, which (the safe) another man had carelessly left open. The safe had been sold to the County Commissioners. and they were to have taken it the afternoon before, but no car could be had, and the agent promised a car the next day. The safe was left partly open, and its contents were destroyed.

The third warehouse was put up by Turpen & Coats, at the west end of the old Dayton & Union depot. It is there vet, and used by A. A. Knapp for water pipes. flue, fire bricks, ete.

In 1855, three years after Union City began, there were six dry goods stores - Messrs. Lenox, Turpen. McFarlan, White, Hawkins and one other - three more than now (1881). John.D. Carter and Montgar, in 1854, had a store on the Ohio side, and a large trade. Cadwallader & Co. tried it there later, not succeed, and quit and went elsewhere. side, was begun early, but it has done no work since 1870). brewery began later, and kept at work many years, but has been idle for some time.

There were in early times some saloons in Union City (Indiana side), but Alfred Lenox routed one, and Simeon Branham another, probably in 1855. This (Indiana) side of the town has never taken kindly to saloons, and, for the most part, has kept them out. Union City, Ohio, however, is sufficiently infested with the nuisance. Simeon Branham says that in 1858 the citizens were Seth poe April, 1852; Lenox, July 2, 1852; Joel N. Converse, 1852; ie A. Willson. March, 18: 53; Joseph J. Turpen, July 2, 1852; Abram Hoke, 1853; Armstrong; Courtney Hayes, 1852; W. A. C. Dixon, 1852; Benjamin Hawkins, 1852; - - - Searl, 1852; Simeon Branham, August 23, 1853; Calvin R. Searl; Rob ert McKee, September, 1852; Josiah Montgar; Samuel Carter, 1853; William Anderson, August, 1852.

First Things

The first house erected was the Star House, by Mr Teeter, in 1850. The first hotel was the Forest House, built (raised) July 2, 1852, and kept by - - Miller. The first store was that of J. J. Turpen (Obio side, Deerfield Crossing), August, 1852. The railroad agent was R. A. Willson, opening the first set of railroad books in Union City. He managed all three of the roads for some time. The Bee-Line was two roads for awhile. The first cars from this place were loaded with grain by Hawkins & Sear], on both roads. J. E. Paxson set up tre first boot and shoe store in 1856. William Anderson set up the first blacksmith shop in August, 1852. and his shop is running yet (1881). The first hardware store was by Dukemineer & Maloy. The first stove store man was a Mr. Smith (or Evans). The first millinery establishment was by Mrs. Bennett. The first drug store belonged to Simmons & Hill, 1854 or 1855. The first livery stable was by Alfred Lenox, in 1855. The first hotel was kept by - - - - Miller, Forest House, in 1852, The first book store was set up by Espy & Steele.

, has been kept up from the very beginning is William Anderson's smith shop, August, 1852. Three others come near that, but do not reach it. "Paxson? s shoe store began in 1856, and is here yet (1880). Turpen & Harris' grocery began in i857, and is here yet. Branham's Hotel was built in 1855-56, and opened in 1856, and is stil] flourishing. Kuntz & Willson began their lumber-yard in 1867. Kirschbaum & Co. began their store in 1865. Joseph Bowers opened a clothing store in 1862. Joseph T. Shaw began seiling dry goods in 1864. Tritt & Robbins be- C. 5S. Hardy commenced his druy J. M. Shank set up his tin and stove store in 1858. J. 8. Starbuck began a wholesale grocery in 1868. Bentley Masslich bought into the Eagle in 1864. William Kerr bought Mr. Beechler's tin and stove store in 1869. Samuel Carter commenced his present business in 1869. Buckingham began his nursery and gardening business many years ago. Henry Fey began the butchering business here long, long ago. Swain

& Platt began in the bovk ae in 1876. Stewart & Swain set up ee grocery in 1865. W. K. Smith began the shoe business in 1859. J. D. Smith set up his jewelry store in 1865. Dr. Ferguson tue the practice of medicine in Union City in 1867. Anderson began to sell lime in 1863. Charles Heitzman set up as a buteher in 1865. John W. Starbuck began his drug store in 1872. A. A. Knap) began to sell pipe. fire brick, flues, etc., in 1875. The first school was taught in the fall of 1853, by Miss Mary Ensminger, in her father's house, with perhaps half a dozen pupils. 'The house is yet standing, on Howard street, just south of the Star House. The first public school was taught in the winter of 1853--54, by George W. Brainard, in the little frame house lately occupied by Mr. Woods. The first church organization was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1852. There were four members, two on probation. The first preaching-place was Henry Debolt's house. The first Sunday school was in 1853; Superintendent, Rey. J. T. Parson; attendance, twenty-five; place, old Bee-Line boarding car. The two first brick edifices are thought to have been Branham's Hotel, 1855, and the building on the southwest corner of Columbia and Pearl - erected by I. P. Gray. The first lumber-vard of any importance was that of Samuel Carter, south of the railroad crossing, in 1862. The first saw-mill was built by John D. Carter in 1852. The first grist-mill'belonged to Hobbes (Ohio side), began in 1857 (nearly). McMillan

The first public schoolhouse was built in 1858. The first church was the Disciples' Church, built in 1858-58. The first child born was Henry Debolt's, dead. The first child born now living was Edward Hoke, son of Seth Hoke, born November 17, 1852. The first magistrate was Hs. quire Evans. The first attorney was William P. Debolt. The first Isaac Sarp burned the first brick-kiln in 1854 or 1855. Solomon Young was the first butcher, in 1852. Johu Teeter built the State Line Hotel in 1853. The first tin shop was by Patrick John Koons commenced the furniture George Grahs began tailoring in 1856. William Thokey commenced at the same time. The Cltizens' Bank was organized in 1865. R&R. J. Clark commenced the bakery business in 1865. Benjamin T. Wilkinson was the first gardener on the ground, commencing in 1858 (Ohio side, where he still resides). [Myr. Wilkinson is an original character, and an account of his life would require a book by itself]. The State Line House (now Orr House), was built very early. The principal settlers near Union City were Mr. Fowler town; Mr. Roe, father of Harrison Roe, south of town; Thomas Peyton, on the Converse farm, west of town; " Kid" Marquis, on the Parent farm, south of town.

Union City, Ohio

UNION CITY, OHIO. This town, though entirely distinct and separate from Union City, Ind., is yet closely connected in business and social interests therewith. It seems proper, therefore, and in a manner in 1838, by whom we do not know, nor just where that plat was located. Itis also said that Mr. Hayes made the first location of a town there, at the east side of the present town, near the Deerfield road, as aiso that Mr. Fruits and Mr. Colclazer added to the town. An additional plat was made by Josiah Montgar, probably in 1852. The petition for the plat, however, was presented to the Board of County Commissioners of Darke County, Ohio, on both sides of the railroad. Mr. Montgar donated ten acres to the railroad for shops, depot, switches, warehouses, and what not, and a saw-mill was built opposite where the brewery was located.

At the first settlement of Union City, the only residents were Aueustus Loveland, on the Indiana side, and John Hayes and Schultz Hayes and My. Conway and Mr. Frederic Roe, perhaps, on the Ohio side. John Hayes lived near the point at which the Greenville wagon road crosses the Bee-Line Railroad, on the west cupied by a gentleman of the same name and connection; anda Mr. Conway had lived in the same vicinity. They had made small openings, but all besides was deep and tangled wildwood and heavy and unbroken forest. The Greenville Creek region had been settled for a long time. and the land there was already mostly occupied. The Deerfield road was largely traveled, and Schultz Hayes kept a tavern, which enjoyed an abundant and extensive patronage.

John D. Carter moved upon the Conway farm in August, 1851, being the first family to come there after the location of the town. having been induced so to do by the urgent solicitation of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, one of the proprietors of the embryo city. He was but a boy, as it were, not yet twenty-one years of age. though a married man withal.

to rebuild at that place: but, through the glowing persuasions of Mr. Smith, he changed his purpose. City, Ohio. was erected in the fall of 1451. and commenced operations in the spring of 1552, perhaps in April of that year. Mr. Carter, as stated, came upon the ground in Aueust, 1851: Henry Debolt, not long after; and My. Montgar, in November of the same year. who purchased a forty-acre tract on the present site of Union City, Ohio, and. in connection with Mr. Hayes, Mr. Roe, ete., laid out that town.

Thus far is the statement taken from the lips of Mr. John D. Carter. Just who came after Messrs. Carter, Debolt and Montgar, who appear to have settled in 1851, we have not been able to discover.

The first smith shop was put up by Frederick Roe, in 1853, at the south end of Division street (Ohio side), in the woods. In the same year, Lewis Gillaum had ashoe shop. A cooper shop was run by P. R. Galloway for eight months in 1855. Woodbury & Hulse had another smith shop upon Division street nov very far from the same time. ;

S. P. MeMillan and Thomas Workman erected a steam gristmill, with four run of buhrs, which is yet in operation. with a capacity of 100 barrels per day. The first dry goods store on that ground was by Morgan & Carter, in 1858, opposite the flour- Brown & Archard opened a wholesale liquor store in 1556. In 1857, P. R. Galloway set up a hoop-pole establish - ment, which was the largest at that time in the State of Ohio. Diving the winters of 1858 and 1859, the shipments were 400 car-loads.

Mr. J. D. Carter, now of Winchester, says that he moved rom that place to Union City, Ohio, building the first saw-mill on that ground in 1852, and a residence; and that his family were the first to move to that town, tbat his mill was opposite the brewery. and that he remained at Union City till 1857. In 1860, Witham & Son built a handle factory, east of State Line and south of the railroad. The building was burned, and a new one built in 1874, now owned by Carter & Son.

In 1876, there was business as follows: A stave factory, with twenty to thirty hands; a planing-mill, with twelve to fifteen hands; a furniture factory, ten to fifteen hands; a hub and spoke factory, ten to fifteen hands; two steam saw-mills and another funiture factory; a steam grist-mill with four run of buhrs; jive brick manufactories and a tile factory. At present, the business may be briefly described thus (it has been partly G. Lambert & Son's grain warehouse, handling 250,000 bushels yearly; Snook's brick, tile and neckyoke The brick factory can make 10.000 brick per day. The tile factory turns' out about $6,000 worth per year. The stave factory, by Wiggim & Son, in 1870, with sheds 1,200 feet and two dry houses. Capacity, 20,000 staves and 8,000 to 10,000 heading per day.

Turning factory by Carter & Son, producing 500 dozen clamps, 50,000 broom handles, 2,000,000 trunk slats and the same number of trunk handles. Worth of products, $25,000 annually. Force, eighteen to twenty hands.

Tub and pail factory; Hook Brothers, came to Union City, Ind., in 1877, and to their present location in 1879 They employ thirty-five hands and make 100,000 vessels annually. Val- Their engine, and that of Carter & Sons also, was made by Smith Brothers, Union City, Ind.

Lumber-yard (hardwood), Jones, Ebert & Benner, 1880, large business; buy from an extensive region, and ship great quantities to the seaboard and elsewhere.

Lumber-yard, Kuntz & Willson, in 1880, a branch of the immense establishment of Peter Kuntz, increasing largely his already wonderful business.

There is one church, United Brethren; pastor, Rev. Keister, active and useful and successful. There is one school building, brick, built in 1870, two stories, containing five rooms; in course of enlargement summer of 1882. Principa), Gillum Cromer; four subordinates. Town officers, 1880: Mayor, William M. Grimes; Clerk, James McMahan; Treasurer, H. 8. Stockdale; Marshal, W. R. Gard; Councilmen, Messrs. Norris, Purcell, Spangle, Eldridge, Thomas, Hankman.

There is one physician and no post office, and no post office in Jackson Township, Union City, Ind., serving for the population of both parts of the city, and that and other outside offices

It was the expectation that the Ohio side would be the main town, but Jere Smith " knew better." It was vot " his calculation," and it turned out the way he wished and intended. The town grew up on the west side of the line, and for many years the Ohio side was only a feeble suburb separated from the main part by a considerable vacant space, owned by Smith, and kept out of market on purpose to hinder the growth of the Ohio side till the other part had attained a clear and permanent strength.

Most of the owners of the business establishments named reside inIndiana. There are, besides those. a few groceries, a | store or two, a blacksmith shop cr two, and a host of liquor .

Much of the custom of the groggeries comes from the Indiana side, and their presence is an unmitigated nuisance to the whole place and the entire region. Indeed, the non-drinking residents of the Ohio side maintain, with how much reason we cannot tell, that. were it not for the patronage afforded from Indiana, most of the saloons would be obliged to "dry up." When shall it once be?

Progress

A large amount of business seemed waiting for the new railroad and the town. The completion of these pioneer tracks marked, indeed, a grand era in the life of this region. Grain, stock and trade in general began to pour in from far and near, especially from the great, destitute region lying toward the north. The grain trade of the infant town was very great. The capacity of the new warehouse was tested to the uttermost, and the crew of men employed to handle the grain were pressed day and night. Within three or four years, no fewer than six dry goods stores in this " new town in the woods" displayed their contents and their wares to tempt the eyes and the hearts of the teamsters fresh from the farms in the surrounding regions. Other establishments, too - groceries, hardware stores. tin shops, hotels, doctors' offices, smith shops--all were here. So great was this wagon trade from the north that for many years the Union City magnates would give no encouragement to any scheme for building a northern road to Portland, Jay County, because it would give those northern " back-country " men a nearer railroad point. And they fought it so much as to produce the result that when Portland obtained her road, it came not through Union City, but through Winchester; and that now, while Portland has two thriving roads. the track to that place via Union City is still unlaid, and will perhaps long coutinue so. But in 1852, the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad, through Union City, and the road to Dayton and Cincinnati were truly a Godsend, and sent a thrill of new life throughout this whole region, then, in fact, largely a wilderness.

The advancement of Union City, Ind., was at first, therefore, quite brisk - too rapid, in fact, for a solid and healthy growth. It was then for several yearscompuratively ata standstill. Since 1872, the upward movement has been strong and nearly constant. Before 1869, there had been no costly buildings nor residences. Most were frame, and the few brick ones were but of moderate size. Branham Hotel was the only large brick edifice. At about 1869, Esquire Jackson erected a fine dwelling on West Pearl street, and, soon afterward, Col. Isaac P. Gray built the dwelling (then thought to be wonderfu!), now the residence of Hon. N. Cadwallader. Just after these erections, building took a new impulse. Three brick editices went up near Paxson's shoe store. The Citizens' Bank, and some others on Oak street were erected about the same time. These all were at ihat time reckoned to be fine structures, and counted an honor to the little "wooden city."

In 1870, the corporation limit north was the alley, or narrow street, between Brandon and Tritt, and there was just one house on Howard and one on Plum north of that (except, indeed, the " cooper's" and Mr. Livengood's, both of which were far in the country). But the city has been extended largely since that date, and the mania for building has become very strong and many costly residences and business blocks have made their appearance in various directions, so that now those former structures, which seemed, when built, to be so splendid, have fallen far into the background.

The general business of the town has increased very greatly, and, considering that the city has no public advantages of location or official business, being not the county seat, and being directly on the line between two counties and two States as well. and having no natural water privileze of any sort, its* growth has indeed been a thing showing a marked energy and most praiseworthy activity on the part of her principal men, and in some respects, at least, it is superior to any town in the re gion. In 1882, the improvement still continues; several dwell ings are being erected; the business of the principal firms is apparentiy and larvely increasing; some new establishments have been set up, among them the Union City Carriage Company, with a capita! of $10,000, intended to employ thirty-five hands,

Considerable labor and expense have boen applied to grading and graveling the streets of Union City. Many think, indeed, that no small amount has been unwisely expended, in changing grade, regrading, digging up streets once graveled, etc.; but what human enterprise is free from mistakes? Within a year or two past, several thousand dollars have been expended upon North Howard street, making « regular and even slope northward, to give free and easy drainage to that part of the city. During 1851, the city graded and graveled West Pearl street, making a fine highway for the western travel, as also a good connection between the factories in the western part of the town and the business part of the city. In fact, the improvement of Pearl street was one of the conditions upon which Woolley & Fisher consented to establish their electric light and motor factory near its western terminus.

The Council, during 1881-82, constructed a capacious sewer, to supply the constantly growing demand for adequate and per manent sewerage for the needs of the town. Two thousand dollars are already on hand, which, with the further avails of the sewer tax that the Council are authorized to levy each year, will suffice to complete the payment for that necessary purpose. It is to be hoped that, before long, some system of lighting the streets ean be established, which, indeed, the steady growth of the city will call for as a necessary improven:unt before the Japse of many more years.

The water works, described more at length elsewhere, have been and are of incalculable benefit to the town, and have done much toward its permanent growth and prosperity.

Prominent Men

The advance of the city, especially since 1872, has heen, on the whole, brisk and substantial. Most of those who are now solid business men had originally little or no capital - country lads, wood-choppers, apprentices, farmers' boys who left home t» try their fortunes, or because the farm was too little for all the male members of the flock.

R. S. Fisher's father was left an orphan lad iu Carolina, and came to Indiana alone on horseback. over mountain and valley and flood. His,wife made her first bedstead in her rude log cabin from two pole benches, with clapboards laid across.

Simon Hedrick was a country boy. Dr. Joel N. Converse was also poor in his boyhood and youth. John T. Shaw was the son of a shoemaker. William Kerr was a tinner's apprentice.

A knowledge of facts is lacking as to the rest of the prominent citizens, but probably not one in fifty of those who are at the head of business was anything but a poor, hard-working lad, and many of them were very poor. The same thing, indeed, is true of the whole county. Moorman Way was an orphan boy, and for years after his manhood was a carpenter and a poor man. Thomas Ward's father, when he came to the county in 1819, was too poor to enter forty acres of land. Thomas W. Kizer is the son of a pioneer farmer. Mark Diggs was an early settler, who entered his quarter-section in the woods sixty years ago. Henry H. Neff, James S. Cottom, the Carters, etc., are sons of pioneers who had only a moderate amount of this world's goods, Henry Neff being a printer's apprentice, and James Cottum a dry goods clerk. Asahel Stone was a carpenter's son, and a carpenter him self. J. B. McKinney's father was very poor.

Daniel B. Miller, Mphraim L. Bowen, James Ruby, the Warrens, Arthur McKew, Klihu Cammack, Ezekiel Clough, Wiiliam O. King, the Starbucks, Gideon Shaw, Philip Barger, the Hirsches, Lemuel. Wiggins, Willson Anderson, John Randle, William Shoemake, William M. Campbell, and scores of others, have all been of the samo sort, the sons of poor men, and most or all of them hard-working farmers, mechanics, artisans or tradesmen. Let their children and their posterity heed the salutary lesson afforded by their laborious, energetic and successful career.

Thus the whole town, and the county as well, is the growth of native energy, and thorough and persistent application to business. During the past eight years, many fine residences and substantial business blocks have been built, streets have been widened, graded and graveled, and, altogether, the town has been greatly enlarged, improved and beautified, and now does a very large amount of business of many kinds.

The people, as a whole, are an upright, moral, intelligent, enterprising, thriving and prosperous community, though it must be confessed that here, as well as elsewhere, vice dares to show its hydra head, and manages to accomplish somewhat of its mischievous, tormenting, fatal work.

Official History

Union City, Ind., was early organized as a town, but. no reeord can be found before 1863. From that time to the city charter the officers were as follows:

Councilmen since the city corporation was created have been Messrs. Coddington. Pierce, Koons. Stall, Harris, Frank, Doty, Wetz, Reeder, Bowersox, Castle, Kubey, Witham, John D. Smith, Jones, Vestal. Ladd, Nivison, Masslich, Frey; City Engineer, S. R. Bell; City Attorney, Pierre Gray.

@ 46 442 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY. John S. Starbuck was a farmer's son, and afarmer himself. Ed- | a3 it began to be settled, but the records are not at hand earlier ward Starbuck was a farmer and a brick-mason. A. A. Knapp | than 1863. The minutes for 1863 speak of ordinances passed in

July 20, 1870, wards declared as follows: First Ward, north of Oak and east of Howard; Second Ward, north of Oak and west of Howard; Third Ward, south of Oak and east of Howard, north of railroad; Fourth Ward, south of Oak and west of Howard, north of railroad; Fifth Ward, south of railroad.

April, 1880, James Moorman offered Moormau's Park, east side of Columbia street, to the city, and the Council accepted the donation on the conditions specified. In 1880, Howard street was cut througb so as to make an even slope and a sufficient drainage north from Oak street, leaving the banks on each side in the highest place some ten feet. In 1881, Pearl street was graded and graveled to its extreme western terminus.

Howard street has been further improved by the laying of sidewalks (stone or brick) along much of its northern portion, and gutters, etc., in some places. The city is now laying water pipes far along the new improvements, giving North Howard, ete.. the full advantages of the water works.

On Hand

The salaries of the officers in 1881 were as follows: Mayor, $200; Clerk. $300; Treasurer, $300; Marshal, $500; Councilmen, $50; Attorney, $200; night police, $45 per month: Superin. tendent Water Works, 30 cents per hour; Board of Water Works, $25 each; Board of Health, $10 (tive members). The salaries of the officers alone foot up about $2,500 yearly, while water works, street cuttings, grades, sewers and what not, make city taxes a fearful burden to be borne. It was an unfortunate circumstance connected with the water works that the city encountered a serious and expensive law suit for infringement of patent,

| which was settled atj last, after great outlay of money, by purchasing of the plaintiffs the right to continue their machinery and methods, In May, 1882, the salaries of the city officers were raised as

Business In Detail

There are several fine business blocks, among which are Bowers & Co's. large three-story brick, Kirschbaum & Cos., large three-story brick, Smith Bros.', large three-story brick, Opera Block, large three-story brick, and others.

Thoro are now many splendid residences; among them are those of Charles W. Pierce, C. S. Hardy, W. H. Anderson, E. L. Anderson, Charles S. Hook, North Howard street; Hon. N. Cadwallader, William Harris, Pearl street; W. K. Smith, E. H. Turpen, Columbia street; J. D. Smith, South Columbia street; Gov. I. P. Gray, Oak street, and many others. Robert B. Mc- Kee and Charles T. Tritt are now (June, 1882) erecting fine residences on North Howard.

A vory large amount of bnsiness is done in Union City for the population of the place. The town is especially noted for the extent of its trade in lumber and wood-work in general, in dry goods and clothing, etc., and in eggs, poultry and butter. In its lumber trade, it surpasses every interior town in Indiana; in the last point, very few towns in the Nation can equal it, while its dry goods stores, spevially those of Messrs. Bowers and Kirschbaum, do an immense business. There are in the town (Indiana and Ohio) twelve or more establishments dealing in lumber and wood in various ways: Peter Kuntz. all kinds - sawmill, planes, door, sash, etc., 200 machines, with building, fixtures and general hardware. He handled in 1879 2,800 car loads of Jumber, much of his trade being wholesale. Hundreds of car loads annually are sent by him directly from the great lumber centers to their various destinations. His trade embraces the whole Mississippi Valley from Northern Michigan to the forest near the Gulf of Mexico. He employs fifty to sixty hands, and owns machinery enough to carry on his extensive works.

Witham & Anderson also have an extensive and flourishing lumber and hardware establishment, with abundant machinery for preparing lumber in general. They employ thirty or forty hands, and carry on a prosperous and increasing business.

Samuel L. Carter has asaw-mill and turning machinery, etc., handling many thousand feet of hard lumber. He employs about twenty hands, and does a large business (Ohio side).

J. T. Hartzell has had a saw mill and turning establishment, wagon factory, etc., and he also has dealt extensively in hard wood lumber chiefly (Ohio side). Besides this, he has sold tin, stoves and hardware, sewing machines, pumps, wagons, carriages, lightning rods, agricultural implements, machinery, etc. (Indiana side). During 1881, he removed much of his business to Greenville, Ohio. In the spring of 1882, he sold out his tinware and stoves and closed out his hardware.

'There are yet two other lumber firms, dealing chiefly in hardwood lumber and walnut and poplar, the home product of the region. One lately formed, Jones; Ebbert & Benner, handles a very large amount of hard wood lumber gathered from the region. Fisher deals principally in hickory. There are also two other factories in town. In these establishments a very large aggregate of business is transacted in wood and lumber. All together they handle many thousand dollars' worth and millions on millions of feet of lumber and wood in all their forms - house-furnishing, wagons, neck-yokes, single trees, tongues, spokes, thills, etc., etc. Some years ago, much lumber in the shape of whole logs was shipped directly to Europe.

The whole lumber and wood trade of Union City gives employment to several hundred men. Asa single specimen we append the following statement:

Mr. Lambert has bought besides 120,000 butts. Hook & Co. have purchased large amounts of tub and pail timber. Wiggim & Co. have bought stave timber. All together the lumber and wood trade is very great.

Mr. John Glunt brought to Union City a single log containing 1,500 feet of lumber - the king of the market. ' Solomon Hartman from four ash trees cut from one acre of ground marketed logs enough to bring him $78, and he hauled elm logs enough in a single day to bring $4.50. The amount paid out by the log and timber dealers in this town during the winter of 1880-81 was very great. At an average of $1.25 per hundred, and it was probably more than that, the sum paid for logs alone would be over $90,000. The other timber bought in town from the farmers in the surrounding region will swell the amount to more than $100,000 - a fine sum, the power of which will make itself felt in a quickened impulse to business of all kinds during the year to come.

The egg, butter and poultry business has grown in the hands of the energetic firms who carry it on to very large proportions. The two firms, Turpen & Harris and John S. Starbuck, employ jointly more than forty hands, and probably $1,000,000 per year. Their business extends over a large portion of the country. It is perfectly wonderful how a small town like Union City can command such a trade in lumber and wood and in the egg and poultry business as the men engaged therein have attained. This whole matter shows in a striking manner what activity and enterprise when wisely and skillfully directed can accomplish. Besides these chief industries of the place, there are others of profit and importance, which we cannot stop to describe at large. The business of Union City may be stated as follows: Two grist mills, one of which, D. H. Reeder (now Converse & Co.), proprietor, employs the patent process; has four run of buhrs, and a capacity of 100 barrels per day; two corn mills, turning out a large amount of meal and feed daily; three brick yards, making yearly many hundred thousand brick, and employing many hands; one tile factory, making 100,(00 tile with fifteen hands; four grain buyers' handling yearly hundreds of thousands of bushels. One agricultural assuciation, two agricultural implement houses, two artists, eleven attorneys, four bakeries, two banks, one band association, six barber shops, seven blacksmith shops, several boarding houses, one bookseller three boot and shoe stores, three brick yards, five building and loan associations, two carriage factories, two cemeteries, two cigar factories, three clothing stores, two coal dealers, two cooper shops, two corn crackers, seven churches, three dentists, one dramatic association, nine draymen, seven dress-maker shops, three drug stores, three dry goods stores, 700 dwellings, three egg and poultry houses, one engine and hose company, one electric light company (closed), two express offices, one fair ground, one flax mill, two foundries, four furniture establishments, five grain-buyers, four gardeners, two grist mills, sixteen groceries, one gunsmith, one handle factory, three hardware stores, five harness shops, one heat fender company, five hotels, two insurance companies, two ice dealers, three jewelers, one junk shop (gone), two lime dealers, four livery stables, seven lodges, two loan brokers, eleven lumber dealers, two machine shops, two marble dealers, eight marriage dowry associations (dead), four meat markets, two milkmen, seven millinery stores, two nurseries, two newsmen, two organ dealers, two paint shops, two parls, two passenger de- rants, four real estate agents, three railroads, several saloons (Ohio side). five saw-mills, four schoolhouses, two sewing machine establishments, eight shoe shops, one stave factory, one stone dealer, three stove stores, four tailor shops, one telephone exchange, two telegraph offices, one tile factory, three tin stores, two tobacconists. one tub and pail factory, three undertakers, two wagon-makers, one water works, several weavers, three wood dealers and three wool dealers. There is the usual complement of draymen, wagoners, masons, carpenters, sawyers, dress-makers, shoe-makers, plasterers, whitewashers and laborers of all kinds to supply the constant and occasional needs of so many people dwelling in the city and the region.

Business Establishments, Etc

Gardeners - Buckingham, Wilkerson and others. Hardware - Hartzell, Kerr, Jaqua & Co.. Witham & Anderson. Harness-makers - Messrs. EHisenhour, Harshman, Lambert. Heat fender estabiishment begun in ISSY,

Printing offices~-Magle, Bentley Masslich; Times, George W. Patchell: Plaindealer, Stephen M. Wentworth (sold ont); News, stock company, Theodore Shockney, editor (sold out).

Buslness---Continued

We give additional information as to various matters of interest in connection with the city in the succeeding article, in alphabetical order.

Tor years traveling troupes of various kinds - musieal, theatrical, ete. - have visited the town, receiving fair and sometimes strong patronage. During the winter of 1880-81, the opera hall was fitted up for a skating rink, and recreation of an active kind was furnished to such as desired it. Occasional concerts

Throughout the season of 1881-82, a greatly increased patronage has been afforded to performing companies of various sorts, the opera hall being occupied in this way during a large part of the winter.

Carriage-Making

In the fall of 1881, a new company was organized with a capital of $10,000, for carriage-making, styled the Union City Carriage Company. The partners are James Starbuck, Pierre Gray and Charles G. Tritt, three active young business men, who have been brought up in Union City, and who have the disposition and the "grit" to prove in the homes of their childhood and amid the haunts of their youth that they have in them the stuff that men are made of. The firm is not yet under full headway, but they begin well, and in the spring of 1882 expect to have in their employment thirty-five hands. The enterprise will add one more to the establishments that have grown up in Union City to add to the activity and the wealth of the town. The work which they have completed and offered to the public finds ready and speedy sale, and the firm are encouraged tv proceed with their praiseworthy enterprise.

Carriage Works, G. W. Ross Dentistry

Messrs. Cowdery & Lefevre are dentists of Jong standing in their profession. D. Cowdery has been a resident of Union City for many years, aud Dr. Lefevre for a shorter time. We have no special biography of these gentlemen and no definite account of their business in the city and vicinity, but they are men of prominence in their profession, and command their full share of the patronage afforded to the department to which they are de voted. Dr. Cowdery hus lately obtained authority to use "vitalized air" in the extraction of teeth and the performance of dental operations in general, which is said to be of great advantage in such matters.

Electric Light And Motor Company, Woolley & Fisher

These works began their operations January, 1881, employing now fifteen hands, with the expectation of an enlargement of the force to fifty or even more. Mr. Woolley has great ingenuity as an inventor, and has devoted much of his thonght to electric force and machinery for producing and applying it.

Mr. Woolley has furnished the genius and Mr. Fisher the money, and the two combined have expended $20,000 in the works in question. They expect to construct (and are now doing so) electric light apparatus, both for towns and large establishments and for general household use. The large lights are to be run by steam or other power; the smaller ones by an electric battery. It is also a part of the business of this firm to make electric motors for light work, such as to propel sewing machines, ete. These proprietors, in February, 1881, made an exhibition of an electric light on the occasion of a ball at the opera house in Union City, producing for eight hours a light equal to the power of 6,000 candles, or the full light of the sun, at-a cost besides the running expenses, of 16 cents. Where the power is furnished by steam, as in factories, etc., the expense will be merely nominal. The things which they are making and expecting to be able to produce are solely the invention of Mr. Woolley, he having already taken out several important patents in this conntry, and his intention being, if he has not already done so, to secure patents in the leading countries of Europe, protecting these creations of his fertile brain.

The light which their generators produce is soft, equable and wonderfully clear und full, and they are confident that the light car be furnished by means of their generators at a cost of only one-third that of ordinary coal oil lamps. They have a small engine weighing only thirty-nine ounces with a capacity of 1,000 pounds per foot per minute, which is indeed a "little giant," and the most powerful machine of its size and weight in the world. Everything about their establishment shows neatness, orderliness and thorough mastery of business, and the financial partner is, as doubtless is also the other, a genteel, modest, unassuming, but intelligent and energetic gentleman, intent on business, and knowing full well how to manage and control it for purposes of use and profit.

July, 1882 - Their business has not yet commanded the success for which the projectors supposed they had good reason to hope and to expect, and the lack of means seems likely to hamper their efforts. In fact, the establishment is now (September, 1882), closed, and their buildings have been sold to a new firm, established for carrying on a new and totally different business, viz., to the Heat Fender Company, lately formed in Union City.

Express Office

The United States Express office was established at the commencement of business on the railroads centering in the town. Some of the agents have been Robert Johnson, Charles Wiiliamson, W. W. Vance, Henry Kitzelman. J. W. Gillies, W. W. Nivison and perhaps others. The last named is the present incumbent. Heseems to be an energetic, faithful, reliable, accommodating public servant, conducting the business of the office on the true principle, that the duty of a public official is to render the utmost possible service to the community in the most pleasant and agreeable way. The express office is, in fact, a most wonderful advantage to the business public and to the people at large, and such officials as. our worthy friend Nivison make us vividly realize that interesting fact.

The business of the express company at this point is very large. The local business is extensive, but the transfer is ten times as great. Five railroad tracks center here, and several hack and mail routes besides. Two of the three lines are among the most important routes in the United States. At present, sixteen express trains pass this office every twenty-four hours, carrying sixteen messengers in charge of the business of the company on these trains. It is an interesting fact that during the whole twenty-seven years of business not a cent of loss of any kind by robbing or otherwise has ever been suffered by the public at this office. Such a fact speaks volumes for the general faithfulness with which the great companies of the country perform their duties and discharge their obligations to the people whose servants they are.

There are several express companies in the United States, the chief of which are: Adams, Wells, Fargo & Co., American, United States. There are some others, but they are of limited extent.

The general business of the country is divided among the various companies by mutual arrangement, generally no two companies operate on the same road, though to this rule there are several exceptions.

The United States Express does business mostly as follows: Southern New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Southern Michigan, Northern Indiana and Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, parts of Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.

The companies overlap over each other considerably as to territory, and no brief description can set the matter forth fully in detail. The express companies, as they have grown up within the last thirty or forty years, are in truth a grand public con-- venience, almost beyond conception. How the public could do without them is not easy to see.

Flax Mill, J. L. Frank

This establishment was built in 1869 by Mr. Mathers for a bagging factory. It was operated thus for some four years, when the enterprise failed, and the bagging factory building was sold, and transformed into a grist mill. In 1876, Coddington & Bowen and the Withams revived the flax mill, running it one year, and Coddington & Bowen two years till the spring of 1880. At that time, John L. Frank purchased the works, and handled the business during the fall of 1880. If there were an abundant supply within reach, 1,500 tons of raw material could be manufactured. Only 570 tons, however, were obtained, which were worked up in about one hundred days. The flax straw is spread, rotted, stacked, and at length made into tow to be spun into bagging. Their market is at Lima, Ohio, Peru, Ind., St. Louis, Mo., and elsewhere. The price used to be $80 to $90 per ton of lint, but the free admission vf jute from abroad lowers the price of flax material and that of.all its products being possibly an advantage to the consumer, but otherwise to the manufacturer and the producer. The first year, about seven hundred tons were purchased and worked at from $6 to $8 per ton of straw. Last year (1880), the price of straw was $4.50 per ton; in 1881, $4. In 1882, Mr. Frank, the proprietor, offered $5 to $5.50 for good, clean, tramped straw, and asmaller price for machine thrashed, since tramping by horses greatly improved the material. FOUNDRY.

Many years ago a foundry was established in Union City, Ohiv, and carried on for some time by Alexander White. The works were discontinued, however, and for a considerable space of time Union City was without anything of the kind. But in 1874, the Smith brothers set up their business near the town, as described in the succeeding statement.

A new foundry was established in 1882, which is now in operation, of which we have not obtained a particular account, only that it is owned by Col Patchell, an active and worthy citizen of the town.

Machine Shop, Smith Bros

Three brothers, William P., James and John Smith, came from Scotland, the former in 1866, and the two latter in 1872. William learned his business in Scotland, and the other two in this county. William carried on his business for three years at Providence, R. I. In 1874, the brothers set up their works at Uniou City, Ind., and their business and their success have been alike inergasing, and with gratifying rapidity and certainty. At first they had hardly work for themselves; now they employ constantly eight hands, with the fair prospect of a still larger growth in the near future. Their business consists in the making and repairing of machinery in general. They construct steam engines, steam pumps and many other things. Their trade extends throughout several counties, to Urbana, Hamilton and elsewhere. They intend before long to establish a foundry, for which they have the building already prepared. The Smith brothers are, like most of the business men of Union City, active and energetic, putting their own hands to the wheel, and counting all the time for full men at the business which they control. In politics they are Republican.

William and James are married, the former with four and the latter with three children. They are still in the morning of life, and may enjoy the hope of many active and successful years in their vocation, a calling alike. honorable to themselves and useful to their fellow-men.

W. A. Wiley & Co., Grain Dealers

The warehouse now occupied by this firm was built in 1858 by D. J. Manzy & Burnett. It was sold to Wharton & Moore; then to W. & F. G. Wiggs, in 1868; then to Wiggs & Wiley in 1876, and to W. A. Wiley & Co. in 1878.

The partners were William A, Wiley and Simon Hendrick. The house is one of long standing, and has always borne a high reputation, and done a strong and healthy business. The present firm are fine, genial gentlemen, and good business men. Mr. Wiley is an efficient member of the Disciple Church, being chorister and Sunday School Superintendent, and Mr. Hendrick belongs to the Presbyterian Church, is a leading member and a Ruling Elder. They are both highly esteemed by their friends and the public. The partnership was ended in the fall of 1880 by the expiration of its term, but Mr. Wiley continues the business alone at the same place.

At the present time (February, 1882), Mr. Wiley is engaged in business in Chicago. His home, however, is still at Union City. Whether his employment there will be permanent time will reveal.

George W. Wiggs, agent for Charles W. Cummings, grain exporter, Philadelphia. His agency at this place began in 1876, buying about five hundred thousand bushels the first year. Since that time, his purchases of wheat and corn have risen to an amount varying from 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 annually. Sometimes a quantity equal to 1,000 to 2,000 cars has been bought by him during a single month.

The orders and the purchase are made by telegraph, and the grain shipped direct tu Philadelphia or New York. Union City seems very favorably located for a business of this sort, and Mr. Wiggs operates throughout the State of Indiana with great efficiency and signal success.

This mill was placed in a building which had been erected for a bagging factory in 1869 by Mathers, in connection with a flax mill. After running the works for some time, he failed,and the building was bought for a grist mill. Bowersox & Reeder placed in the building a new-process mill, about 1874, at a cost of about $15,000, and the establishment has been in operation ever since. It was in the hands of Bowersox & Reeder till October, 1878; then of Reeder & Co. till the winter of 1880-81, at which time the property came into the hands of Dr. Joel N. Converse, now of Chicago; and the mill is now operated by Harry Converse, under the firm name of Converse & Co. The mill contains three run of buhrs for wheat and one for corn, besides another run for the process of regrinding. The present capacity of the machinery is 350 bushels of wheat in twenty-four hours, with two run of buhrs.

The new process consists of machinery for the purifying and regrinding of the middlings. They pass through a kind of fanning mill that subjects them to an air blast, which cools and purifies by removing the woody fiber and the germ of the kernel, and after that the middlings pass to the special run and are reground, and the substance is then conveyed into the head of the bolt, and the flour thus obtained is the finest of the whole. There is also a bran duster, which consists of a cylinder with revolving brushes, which brushes the bran and takes every dust of flour therefrom, and the flour thus obtained is of an excellent quality. And the quantity saved, moreover, is considerable, since the makers propose to sell the proprietors a new bran duster, and to wait for payment until the amount saved thereby shall be equal in value to the price of the machine. The machinery in the mill is very excellent, and the results accomplished are of the highest order. New works have been added during the present year to the value of $1,500 or over, it being the determination of the enterprising proprietors to make all the appliances of the mill equal to the very best in the region.

This mill was built before 1855 by McMillen, and owned by McMillen, Burnet & Stubbs, Burnet, Hayes & Stubbs, Cranor & Fisher, Rogers, Weimar, McFeely, the latter becoming its proprietor in 1879.

The mill contains four run of buhrs, three for wheat and one for corn, etc., and has a capacity of 100 barrels in twenty-four hours. The mill has for some time been doing but little, yet it is capable, under proper and efficient management, of good, thorough, reliable work.

There has been a good supply of these needful establishments from the beginning, and the number is now greater than ever, in fact, too great for detailed mention. The biographies of several of the principal citizens thus engaged will be found in their appropriate places, but for an account of the establishments themselves we have no room.

J. T. Hartzell, hardware, has for several years carried on an extensive and constantly increasing business. There seems to be hardly any limit to his activity and enterprise. He is at present a dealer in tin, stoves and hardware; has a turning factory; deals extensively in lumber; has a wagon shop; runs wagons for peddling, for pumps, for lightning rods, for sewing machines; he has lately bought the wood and timber on 100 acres, and is engaged in having the wood and timber removed from the laud; owns asaw-mill for the manufacture of lumber, etc. He employs about forty hands. It is hard to tell what will spring up next under his omnipresent energy. :

He has also started manufacturing at Greenville, Ohio. It has been said that he will remove entirely from Union City to Greenville, Ohio. Whether the rumor has any foundation cannot now be told. At this writing (August, 1882), Mr. Hartzell's business has been mostly transferred to the town above named, though he still holds his residence at Union City.

There are two other hardware estahlishments- - that of Jaqua & Kuntz and that in connection with the lumber works of Witham, Anderson & Co., in charge of George Gregory. They are carried on chiefly for the sale of hardware for building purposes.

Heat Fender Company

During the summer of 1882, a new association, called the Heat Fender Company, was created in Union City for the purpose of manufacturing a newly patented invention for conveying away surplus heat from stoves used for heating purposes during the summer. The company has purchased the property formerly occupied by the Electric Light Company, on the south side of Pearl street, near the railroad tracks, and it is the intention and expectation to enter extensively upon the manufacture and sale of the article in question. A considerable capital has been invested with the hope and prospect of certain and abundant returns. The invention was patented August 13, 1882, by B. S. Hite, of Mexico, Mo. Three companies have been organized for the manufacture of the heat fender - at Mexico Mo., at Union City, Tenn., and at Union City, Ind. The company at Union City, Ind., was organized August 14, 1882; capital, $50,000; share, $100. Officers - John Butcher, President; A. G. Waymire, Vice President; Preston N. Woodbury, Secretary; A. B. Cooper, Treasurer; John S. Starburk General Manager; John Butcher, A. G. Waymire, Preston N. Woodbury, John S. Starbuck, John L. Reeves, Henry Retenour, Directors. The machinery will soon be on hand and ready for operation, A considerable force will soon be employed, and by another year it is expected that one 'hundred to one hundred and fifty hands will be engaged in the business of the establishment.

Union City Hose Company No. 1

In 1879, the number of members was increased to forty. The present Foreman is Jacob 8. Bowers, who is also Chief of the Union City Fire Department. The company hold monthly meetings for business, and have an appropriate uniform, with suitable laws for the government of their conduct as members of the company. It is composed wholly of volunteers. The fine for non-attendanco at regular meetings is 10 cents, and for absence at fires 50 cents. The signal for meeting is five taps of their bell. Meetings for drill are held at the call of the Foreman. They own two hose reels and 1,000 feet of hose. Alarms often test the promptness and speed of the firemen, and they answer with great alacrity to the call, but fortunately, few real and extensive fires have occurred in the city since the creation of the hose company.

In 1881, the hose company visited Sidney, Ohio, by invitation, on the 4th of July, and in 1882 the Sidney boys were entertained at this place. The entertainments on both days were liberal and generous.

The Branham House was opened in 1856, and has been the leading hotel of the place ever since. Several other public houses have been kept, among which have been the Star House, the Butcher

The oldest hotel in town was built on the north side of Pearl street, opposite the post office. Tho building was erected in July, 1852, and was opened for travelers under the name of the Forest House.

Since that time it has passed through many hands, bearing now the appellation of the Malen House. The State Line House was built very early, and has been open as a hotel nearly or quite all the time since its first erection; for some years past under the control of William Orr. Tike Star House, now in the hands of Mr. Baker, and occupied as a boarding house, is said by the early settlers to have been the first framo building ereeted on the present site of Union City.

Solomon Young, Union City, Ohio, has been a resident of the vicinity for at least thirty years. He is said to have been the first butcher in the place. He has been a farmer and trader, latterly a grain buyer, and at prosent a dealer in iee. He con structed a pond in the fall of 1SS0, and during the succeeding winter stored there several hundred tons of ice, and now deals out the cooling substance through the summers of fearful heat, greatly to the comfort of the citizens of the town. Ho intends to bore down into the vast subterranean river which has already been tapped in various places, to utilize still further its valuable waters by filling therewith his enlarged ice pond. Great, indeed, is the ingenuity of man, and wonderful his fore thought; and unnumerable are the methods and the contrivances by which grievances are removed and comforts are increased and multiplied, and one of the best of them all is this one of storing up the frozen products of the cold of winter to temper, the torrid heats of a burning summer. Long may the ice man flourish, and his tribe increase, till the luxury of ice in summer may be brought within the reach of all! Mr. Young has in the late fall of 1881 purchased the old Orr Building, in Union City, Ohio, one of the first erected in that town, and is now (December, 1881) engaged in repairing and improving the property and the premises for a more remunerative and successful use.

There is also another ice dealer in town besides Mr. Young, an account of whose business is not now at hand. Besides these, some establishments procure ice during the winter for their own sumer supply. Great quantities of this precious solid are used in these days. The egg and butter and poultry men, the butchers, the grocers, etc., employ much ice to preserve their commodities at aproper temperature. Hotels and private families alike patronize the ice business on an extensive scale; in fact, the production of cold in hot weather is, in these latter days, a wonderful promoter of comfort; and, although ice can even now be supplied at a surprisingly low rate, let us fondly hope that the time is not very far in the future when ice may come to be not a luxury at the command only of the rich, but a necessary of life and within easy reach of the masses of the people.

Peter Kuntz, Lumber Works

This establishment is large, and growing larger and more extensive every year. [For a statement in detail, see account previously given, as also biography of P. Kuntz. |

Witham, Anderson & Co

The lumber yard on the ground now occupied sy this firm was established by Samuel Carter in 1858. Afterward Carr & Co. operated there; now Witham & Anderson occupy the place. The business of that yard has grown with the place and region till the amount of lumber handled has come to be something wonderful. They deal in all kinds of lumber and house furniture, including hardware. The firm receive about seven hundred car loads of lumber yearly, or probably a larger quantity than that.

They have all needed machinery for working lumber - surfacing machines, matching machines, siding saw, wood-worker, cut-off saws, mortising machines, tenon machines, lathes, tig saws, molding machines, frizzers, etc., etc. They employ thirty to forty hands, and sell above $100,000 per year.

Hardwood Lumber

HARDWOOD LUMBER. About 1875, Thomas Jones, of Union City established a lumber yard for handling the various hard native woods marketedin the region. After operating alone for one year, Simon Hedrick became his partner for two years.[)About January, 1880, a new firm was formed, consisting of Jones, Benner & Ebert, which exists at the present time. Their business has steadily increased till they have come to operate on an extensive scale. They buy logs, and procure their manufacture into lumber of various kinds at the different points of purchase and storage. They get lumber from Dawn, Ansonia, Boundary City, Greenville, Palestine, Winchester, Union City, Dunkirk, Redkey, Hartford City, Shideler, Muncie, Recovery, etc. At Recovery and Hartford City the firm maintain depots for original shipment, having at Recovery alone at this time 100,000 feet of lumber prepared for market.

Their shipments are wholly to New England and the Eastern sea board, consisting of ash, oak, walnut, wild cherry, etc. As a specimen of their work it may be stated that in twenty-four days, during the winter of 1880, the firm paid out $9,400 at their office in Union City, Ohio, alone for logs, which were sawed into lumber on the ground by amill hired by them, aud set up in the yard for the purpose. Within eighteen menths past, the amount of lumber handled by them has been in equal in value to $100,- 000 to $120,000. The amount of advantage which accrues to the farmers and producers of the region by means of the enterprise and the capital of such energetic business men is almost beyond belief. A few years ago timber stood on the ground a burden and a nuisance, costing untold labor and toil to clear its bulk from the face of the land and make ready the soil to receive the precious seed for the hoped-for crop, with nothing to show for the labor expended but the ashes left upon the ground by the consumption of the log heaps burned in tie clearings.

Now the value of the timber alone far exceeds that of the land itself. Even the elm and the buttonwood, utterly worthless k-rotofore either for fuel or for merchandise, have come to possess a large marketable value, and it is now not a very uncommon occurrence that two or three trees cut and hauled to market will bring money enough to purchase a full acre of the soil on which they stood, with all the timber growing thereupon. Thus it is that the "middlemen" immensely enhance the worth of articles of commerce, and not infrequently absolutely create a large and profitable value for commodities which otherwise would have possessed none at all.

Lumber Yard, Union City, Ohio

Peter Kuntz, the veteran lumber dealer in Union City, and Rufus A. Wilson, his former partner in that business, have entered into a new partnership, and established a new lumber yard on the Ohio side, immediately east of the State line, which may, in time, taking into account the well-known and Jong-tried activity and business tact of the enterprising proprietors, become an important and extensive establishment.

The number of stores in Union City from first to last has been somewhat large. Within a short time after the commencement of the town, six stores were in successful operation. We are unable to name the persons who have from time to time sold goods to the citizens of the aspiring town and the inhabitants of the surrounding region. In truth, the trade centering at this railroad point was for years comparatively large. Grain was wagoned from far north to Recovery, Portland, New Corydon, and the goods sold by Union City merchants found their way far and wide throughout the northern woods. And for many years the business men of the embryo city were opposed to the extension of the Dayton & Union Railroad northwardly to Portland, because it would deprive them of the wagon trade from that section. Of late years the two rival establishments owned by Messrs. Bowers and Kirschbaum seem to have absorbed all the others, except indeed a single one rejoicing in the ownership of J. T. Shaw, who has held his ground in spite of all the difficulties for seventeen or eighteen years, and who still maintains his

It is somewhat remarkable that in a town of somo four thousand people only three dry goods stores can to-day be found. Two of them, however, are very extensive, and the other one commands a substantial patronage. Some account of each will be discovered in the biographies of their proprietors respectively.

Egg, Butter And Poultry House, Turpen & Harris, Proprietors

Among the kinds of business created by the needs of modern civilization hardly any is more remarkable or more noteworthy than the one here described. And that so extensive an establishment as the one now under consideration should spring up and flourish in a town so smal] and comparatively obscure as Union City is a curious specimen of the freaks of business, or rather of the certainty with which a combination of capital and business skill will create facilities for business and command assured and abundant success.

Mr. Harris came here not very many years ago with slender means, working for W. S. Osborn on a salary. After becoming acquainted, he was offered one-fourth interest in the concern, which netted him $1,000 tho first year. He went in with E. H. Turpen, a substantial grocer of the place. They borrowed some money and undertook the pork-packing business, and, the year being a fortunate one, they realized a considerable amount. They built their brick edifice for their grocery business, took Mr. Osborn's packing house on shares for a year, and then bought him out. This business has grown greatly in their hands, having increased from $75,000 a year to $500,000 annually. They have managed also two other establishments of the kind, one at Toledo, Ohio, and one at Goshen, and while carrying on these they are supposed to have handled more trade of this kind than any other firm in the United States. They now have only the establishment at Union City, and handle more business of this sort than any other firm in the State of Indiana. This firm was the first in the West to employ a refrigerator for purposes of preservation of their goods, and now they conduct that branch of the business on a very large scale. They pack each winter 425 tons of ice, and have a capacity of storage at once for 4,000 barrels of eggs, which capacity is often utilized to the utmost. They handle yearly 2,000,000 pounds of butter, two to three hundred thousand pounds of poultry and 15,000 barrels of eggs. They throw away of spoiled eggs sometimes 1.000 dozen in asingle day during the busy season. The temperature of their packing apartments is maintained throughout the entire season at about thirty-eight, only six degrees above freezing point. This establishment is an illustrious example of the necessity and the public advantage of "middlemen," so bitterly decried by many in the community. Without something of the sort carried on by them, the egg and butter business would be, during the hot season, nearly a dead loss, since for private parties to preserve and market these commodities at such times would be nearly impossible.

They gather the products of the farmers through a region hundreds of miles in extent, giving a constant and reliable price, and buying the whole product of the region, no matter how great.the amount nor how dull the general market may be. They make their purchases, put the articles into a marketable condition, and, holding till the glut ceases, forward at a proper time for a remunerative sale, thus making a good profit for themselves indeed, but paying to the farmers at hoine, moreover, more than they could possibly realize at the general markets. The value of their labors to the community is therefore immense, effecting a saving to the producers of an amount far greater than even the profits which by their skill and forethought they are enabled to realize for themselves. In fact the "middleman" business, so much decried and so little understood, is, on the whole, the source of nearly all the profit which accrues tc any class.

For the producers to market their own commodities would be utterly impossible, except ata ruinous loss. But by means of the despised and condemmed "middlemen "of all kinds, conveyors, transporters, wholesale and retail dealers, agents and what not, business, instead of being ruinous and impossible, becomes for the whole country and the universal world, and for'producers as well as for "imiddlemon" a grand, glorious, triumphant success. This branch may at times, like every other department of activity, be over done, but if that ever occurrs the matter very soon rights itself and an equilibrium takes place. Turpen & Harris procure their merchandise over a great extent uf territory, through portions of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. By agents at the principal shipping pvints, on. salaries or on commission, by focal agents, by wagons traversing the country and in every practicable way they succcod in gathoring almost incredible amounts of these products of the farm. So delicate, so frail, so perishable, which nevertheless come to be and solely through the enlight - ened skiJl by which their capital and labor are constantly controlled, the source of immense profit to the producers and to the country at large. They employ at Union City alone about thirty hands. The buildings in which their extensive business is carried on are not, indeed, as they do not need to be, showy and expensive, yet in those humble edifices is handled an immense and well nigh incredible amount of merchandise, the value of which is created almost wholly by the energy and skill with which they employ the means under their contro] in this important department of commerce. [For other packing houses, see John S. Starbuck. | PARKS, ETC.

In the spring of 1880), James Moorman, of Winchester, donated a fine tract of ground nearly in the heart of the town for a city park, to be kept aud used for that exclusive purpose.

Some rather remarkable incidents were connected with Moorman's Park. The property some years ago belonged to William P. Debolt, Esq. He mortgaged it with other property to secure the payment of money, became unable to pay and the mortgage was foreclosed and the lands sold by the Sheriff James Moorman bought the property. Mrs. Debolt refused absolutely to leave the premises. A long and bitter legal struggle arose. Mrs. Debolt was put off by the officers of the law, but she immediately returned, and for weeks in the heart of winter, amid frost and rain and snow, did that resolute woman persist in holding fast by lodging on the porch of the dwelling, which was locked and watched by Deputy Sheriffs to keep her from entering. James Moorman made her offers, but they were rejected with scorn. At length, weary with the struggle, he donated the lots to Union City, which the council accepted, much against the judgment of many of the citizens, since it seemed to them to be taking up a dispute without occasion. Mrs. Debolt was at last taken by the Sheriff to Winchester, by order of Judge Monks, to answer for contempt of court, but was let go under strict promise that she would surrender the fort. There has been no further trouble, and the siege of " Fort Debolt" is only a memory of the past. In the course of the struggle, some one who was in sympathy with the lady stopped the chimney-top and raised the cry of fire. The officers inside opened the doors in alarm. Mrs. Debolt rushed in in spite of attempted force to prevent her and gained possession, and kept it till taken to Winchester, as before stated.

Of the rights of the controversy the public generally were not perhaps fully informed. Mrs. Debolt claimed that she had never knowingly signed away her right to the property, and that in justice one-third was still hers, while the other party declared, certainly with a strong show of reason, that his title was complete, and that she had not even the shadow of a valid claim. The court was certainly on the side of Moorman, and made her to cease her attempts to hold possession of the property by severe threats of greater severity unless she obeyed its mandates; yet the public tranquillity was for a time seriously disturbed by the controversy, since many sided with the woman, and more thought it an unwise thing to adopt the contest against Mrs. Debolt. The matter soon quieted down, however, and little or nothing has been heard of it since. Mrs. Debolt, indeed, has undertaken at times to gather fruits from the trees upon the lots, and once at least, during the summer of 1881, she was arrested and thrown into the calaboose by the Town Marshal for trespassing thus upon the premises, contrary to the express and strict ordinunce of the City Council concerning the property.

The whole case is a curious episode in the dull routine of city life, showing how perplexing are the instances of conflicting claims which arise in the course of business, and how much trouble a single resolute and persistent (not to say stubborn and obstinate) individual may cause to his neighbors and the community.

Parks, Fair Grounds, Etc

Besides Moorman Park, which cannot be used for religious or political gatherings, there is a park chiefly covered with natural timber, containing many acres, and besides this the fair grounds. Both these inclosures are well suited for public assemblies or for private pleasure parties. Good platforms have been erected, excellent wells have bean prepared and the shade is beautiful and abundant, and both locations are used in this way for picnics, conventions, 'rallies, celebrations, camp meetings, etc., ete.

The roads to Union City during the first years of its existence were horrible enough. In muddy times, they were simply awful. Pikes began to be built, however, and the good work has gone on until now nearly or quite every road leading into town has been made intoa pike. The number extending outward from the city as a center are eight in number: 1, the North Pike to Winchester, ten miles; 2, the South Pike to Winchester, ten miles; 3, the South State Line Pike, six and one-fourth miles, connecting at the south end with a pike leading to Greenville, Ohio; 4, the pike to Hill Grove, leading to Greenville, eleven miles; 5, the Teegarden Pike, leading north and east (worn out); 6, the Salem Pike, leading northward nine miles to the line of Jay County; this road has a branch to New Pittsburg, also on the Jay County line; 7, the State line, leading north; 8, a pike leading southeast to Darlington, ete.

Some of these roads become badly cut up during the rain and frost of winter, but they do great good nevertheless. They are a vast improvement on the bottomless sea of mud that tried men's temper and their horses' pulling qualities as well in the days of "auld lang syne." A proper system of road work such as might easily be devised and perfected would vastly improve the common highways and make them all nearly equal to pikes with little additional expense. The system of road working now in vogue with slight modifications would answer every purpose. Much of the road work as now done is only a nuisance rather than an advantage. The gravel obtainable for the construction of pikes in this region is nut always of the best quality, and the durability of the road bed is somewhat lessened thereby. Two new pikes, both of them of considerable advantage to the prosperity of Union City, are in process of construction during the summer of 1882. First, one leading from the Winchester & Deerfield Pike eastward through Saratoga to the toll gate northwest of Union City; second, one commencing at the Wayne County line, southeast of Spartansburg, and running directly north to the toll gate southwest of Union City. Both these roads are being made under the provisions of the free pike law in force in the State of Indiana. The first opens a large scope of fine farming country, and gives the citizens in that locality an excellent avenue of communication both east and west. The second is longer and still more important, reaching out through the extreme southern portions of the county, and affording to some of the oldest and richest portions of our territory a direct and substantial highway to the markets of Union City.

Post Office

The post office was established at the commencement of the town. It found temporary accommodations in various places. It was kept besides otlier locations at one time southwest corner Oak and Columbia; at another in a small building on Pearl street, now occupied by the Young Men's Christain Association, and still again in the Hardy Block, southeast corner Pearl and Columbia. Though fora long time migratory, it has found, it may be hoped, a fixed abode in the northwest corner of the Branham Block, on East Pear! street.

The office, from being at first very small and insignificant, has become a large and important one with a salary of $1,200 per year. There are in connection with it 664 boxes.

There are several side mails branching from this point as follows: 1, Spartansburg, Arby & Richmond Hack Line, daily, supplying Bartonia, Spartansburg, Arba and other places; 2 Union & Recovery Hack Route, supplying Castle, Allensville, Jordan, Salimony and Recovery.

It is also a money order office, doing a large amount of business in that line. The general income of the office amounts yearly to a large sum. The Postmasters of Union City have for many years, perhaps always, been noted for their kind and accommodating disposition, and especially does the present incumbent present a fine illustration of the principle that the business of a public servant is to subserve the interests of the public in his department of labor in every reasonable and practicable way.

Mr. Cooper, the present occupant of the office, after a service in the office as deputy and as principal during several years, received in 1880 a re-appointment and a commission for four years in accordance with a petition numerously signed by the residents of the vicinity asking for his continuance in the position.

Two chief national mail routes, those by the "Bee-Line" and the "Pan-Handle" Railways, meet and cross at Union City, as also the route from Cincinnati via Dayton, Ohio, comes to this point; besides, there are the hack routes previously mentioned.

Public Halls, Etc

There have been at different times various halls fitted up for public purposes. Among them have been the following: Paxson's Hall, Seanlan's Hall, Cranor's Hall, Kirschbaum's Hall, Fletcher's Hall, Opera Hall, Temperance Hall, Temperance Tabernacle. These halls have been opened at various times, generally about two having been in use simultaneously. There is now but one, vy..., the Opera Hall, third Hoor, corner of Oak and Howard. The Temperance 'abernacle, erected for temperance meetings and for other general uses, has been sold and changed into a carriage warehouse.

Since Union City is perhaps the most important railroad center in Randolph County, it will not be thought amiss to conpect the account of the various railroads extending in different directions through the county with our description of that town. There are indeed at present several railroad crossings - Winchester, Ridgeville, Lynn and Union City are now favored with the possession of that important advantage. The Richmond & Grand Rapids Railroad crosses in the county three other tracks, all three being eastward bound. At Lynn, it crosses the new road, the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western (I., B. & W.). At Winchester, the same road (the Grand Rapids) crosses the Bee Line, and at Ridgeville the Pan Handle. But Union City is a grand center to all roads being the pomt of conjunction of the two great throughfares, perhaps the greatest and most extensive in the State or even in the country, the Bee Line and the Pan Handle, or, speaking more exactly and more technically, the land, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis, and being the point where the Dayton & Union Railroad, a direct line from Cincinnati and the south, joins the two great routes already referred to. While, therefore, at the other railroad crossings within the county a north and south road strikes an east and west road, at Union City the oldest north and south road in the region strikes both the great old and permanent trans-continental routes of travel and commerce. Hence the statements concerning the various railroads crossing the soil of Randolph will be given at this time and in conjunction with the history of Union City.

The track of the Union & Dayton Railroad was laid to the State line in Union City December 25, 1852. Some weeks elapsed, however, before the track was suitable for general traffic. One gentloman says that the first passenger train through from Dayton to Indianapolis passed over the road January 24, 18538. The

That part of the Pan Handle, now the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, from Columbus to Union City, was completed in about 1856. The other part from Union City to Logansport was completed in about 1867. Two other roads were graded to reach this city, viz., the Louisville & - - - - Railroad and the Portland Railroad, but as yet they are simply grades and nothing more.

As it is, five tracks converge at this point from so many different directions, furnishing sure and speedy connections with the whole country, and making Union City an important railroad center.

There is one extensive roundhouse belonging to the Bee- Line Railroad. The Pan Handle has a passenger and freight depot combined. The Bee Line and the Dayton & Union Railroads are united in management, and have a passenger and a freight depot used. by both. Each passenger depot has a telegraph office; only the Bee Line does general business.

The Branham House is the grand railroad hotel of the town, established in 1856, and still owned and managed by Simeon Branham, Esq., in connection with one of his sons. It is an excellent hotel; its worthy proprietor is an upright, Christian gentleman, and his discreet and liberal management of the public house under his control has done much to give character abroad to our ambitious and enterprising little city.

The number of railroad employes in Union City is 150 or more. The business transacted by the different roads is almost beyond belief. Sixteen passenger trains and twenty-two freight trains arrive or depart or both from Union City every twenty-four hours as follows: D. & W. R. B., passenger, four, freight, two; Pan Handle, passenger, six, freight, ten; Bee Line, passenger, six, freight, ten.

The freight trains are very large, and often run in sections, two and sometimes three sections in one train. Counting the sections as single trains, there are sometimes (including all the roads) fifty or more trains in a single day.

It is wonderful, and yet it is said to be the truth, that during almost thirty years of constant and ceaseless traffic not an injurious accident of any kind has ever happened at the grand railroad crossing at Columbia street by a collision at that point. It makes one think of the movements of the stars in their course, and of the "music of the spheres. "

Several sad injuries resulting in death have indeed occurred in and near the town. It is reasonably thought, however, that in most of the cases and possibly in all the employes of the road have not been in fault, The railroad management is, in truth, an immense business, wonderful for its extent and its complications and for its endlessness of detail, and requires for its safe and successful handling a care, a skill, a patience and an attention close, persistent, uninterrupted both night and day, almost, one would think, beyond the power of man to accomplish; yet the work is done here and throughout the whole land with a perfection, a thoroughness and a comparativesafety and freedom from casualty agreeable to contemplate and wonderful to behold. True, indeed, that, taken in the aggregate, many great and terrible casualties have taken place; yet, compared with the immense and inconceivable amount of traffic transacted upon the railways of the land, the natural and unavoidable liabilities to accidents of every vonceivable sort, the comparative freedom from injury to life and limb is indeed wonderful, is little short of miraculous, and shows a power in the human mind to develop, regulate and control the forces of nature to the needs of the great family of man well nigh inconceivable. And all this business has grown up in the country and world within the last half century, and for the West most of the whole vast traffic, comprising scores of thousands of miles of track, tens of thousands of cars, thousands of huge locomotives. besides the towns, the depots, the engine works, the car works, the iron and steel factories and all and sundry the places and appliances for the carrying on of this incredible mass of human activity within thirty years. Groat is commerce! Great has she always been, and greater still and ever greater, and daily and yearly more indescribably and inconceivably great in extent, in richness and in capability for the use and comfort of human kind.

Dayton & Union Railroad

The Dayton & Union Railroad was the first road completed to Union City, December 25, 1852. Great activity was at that time shown in the construction of railroads. A track had been laid from Dayton to Greenville, and a route was projected and work done thereon from the latter point to Winchester, Ind., and the early completion of the track on that route was supposed to be a fixed fact. However, by the efforts of the Messrs. Smith, in behalf of their embryo town, Union City, the route was changed to that place. The track was laid to Union City December 25, 1852, and shortly afterward business began upon tke road. For a time, the amount of traffic done upon that road was very large, but, as direct lines to the eastern seaboard developed their capacity for business, its importance as a throughfare of trade and travel grew less. Still, a large traffic is carried on over ths route, and the Dayton & Union line adds greatly to the businese facilities of the place and the region. It is said by railroad experts that it makes the best financial showing of any road in the United States, 42 per cent of its gross earnings being net profit.

Three trains daily each way pass over its track - two passenger and one freight train. During some eight years past, the management of the Dayton & Union Railroad has been in joint connection with the Bee Line and the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton (C., H. & D.) Railroads.