Findlay City (part 16 of 28)

if bee hardy itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church were the first to carry the glad tidings of salvation to the scattered pioneers of Hancock County, though they were soon followed by the ministers of other denominations. In the spring of 1822 Rev. James Gilruth, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came from the East for the purpose of entering lands in northwestern Ohio. Arriving at Fort Findlay he put up at Wilson Vance's tavern, and the following Sunday preached in Findlay by appointment to quite a good sized congregation, made up of the settlers then living in the county. Five or six yoars afterward Rey. Adam Poe and a companion, both Methodist ministers, preached in the old log schoolhouse, where they also slept overnight. In August, 1828, Rev. Josiah Root, a Baptist preacher, held services in the cabin of Joseph De Witt, a blacksmith of the village, who then lived on the west side of the park. Revs. Arza Brown and Jesse Pryor, of the Methodist Circuit, preached in Findlay in the fall of 1828, and Revs. Jacob Hill and Alvin Billings, of the same denomination, early in 1829. A Presbyterian minister named Barr held several meetings in the old log schoolhouse in the spring of 1829, and organized a Bible Society, with Wilson Vance, Edwin S. Jones and John OC. Wickham, directors. Rev. Barr returned the following autumn and held a two days' service in Findlay, administering communion to a few members of the Presbyterian faith, who then lived in this vicinity. About this time Findlay was visited by several Methodist ministers who were connected with the Wyandot Mission at Upper Sandusky, among whom were Revs. Jacob Hooper and William Sprague in 1829-39, and Revs. Thomas Thompson, Elnathan C. Gavitt and Benjamin Boydston in 1830-81.

There is no record in existence of the organization of the first Methodist class in Findlay, but it was probably formed in 1829, as, according to Aaron Baker, a leading pioneer of Findlay Township, a class had been organized prior to his father's settlement north of the village in the spring of 1830. Thomas Slight and wife, Jacob Foster and wife, William Hackney, John Boyd and William De Witt were perhaps the earliest members of this class. But among other pioneer Methodists who joined the class soon afterward were John Baker, Mary Baker, Isaac Baker, Catherine Swapp, Aaron Baker, Elizabeth Baker, Henry Baker, Parlee Carlin and wife, Mrs. Squire Carlin, Daniel Andreck and wife, Reuben Baker, Mary, Elizabeth and Isaiah Hartley, Sarah Foster, Robert Bonham, Nathan Frakes, Benjamin Strother, Johnson and Amos Bonham, Melinda C. Strother, Mrs. Frederick Duduit and Joseph D. Ford. In 1832 Fort Findlay Mission was established, and held its first quarterly meeting November 17 and 18 of that year. At that meeting a committee was appointed to estimate the cost of building a parsonage at Findlay, and another to ascertain the expense of erecting a church in '"Greer's Neighborhood'' - now Mt. Blanchard. The financial report at this first quarterly meeting of the Mission, from sixteen appointments - including $50 appropriated by the Missionary Society - was $68.42, the sum of $18.42 being all that was received from the classes.

Revs. Elam Day and Benjamin Allen were in charge of the Findlay Mission in 1832-33, and Revs. Day and Joseph Newson in 1833-34. On August 20, 1833, lot 145 on East Main Cross Street was purchased for $20 by the trustees of the church, and during the fall a small frame building was put up on the rear part of the lot, which was used as a meeting-house until the erection of their first church building in 1836-37. Revs. W. B. Bradford and McKendree Thrapp were the missionaries in charge in 1834 - 35, and Revs. Elam Day and Mark Delaney in 1835-36. We find by the church records that in 1836-37 the name of the Mission was changed to the 'Findlay Circuit,'' with Revs. Henry Whiteman and G. W. Breckinridge in charge. During this year a frame church, 40x50 feet, was erected on East Main Cross Street at a cost of about $700. The successive ministers for the next thirteen years were as follows: 1837-388, Revs. J. C. Conway and EK. R. Hill, 1838-39, S. M. Allen and W. C. Huestis; 1839-40, James Wilson and Richard Biggs; 1841-42, John Tibbles and Henry Warner; 1842-43, Harvey Camp and Philip Start; 1843-44, H. G. Dubois and Luke 8. Johnson; 1844-45, John Orr and J. C. Russell; 1845-46, R. S. Kimber and J. S. Kalb; 1846-47, Wesley J. Wells and Samuel Mower; 1847-48, T. J. Pope and C. W. Brandeberry; 1848-49, T. J. Pope and J. Crabbs; 1849-50, W. S. Lunt and Alanson Foster.

Through the passing years the church had rapidly increased, both in numbers and wealth, and the old building was deemed insufficient in size to comfortably accommodate the congregation. The society therefore decided to take two very important steps in advance, viz.: to ask to be made a station and to erect a new house of worship in a more convenient locality. The request was complied with, and in 1850-51 W. S. Lunt was returned as pastor. Lots Nos. 18 and 19 on West Sandusky Street were purchased in January, 1851, for $450, and a commodious brick building, 48x80 feet, erected the same year at a cost of about $7,000. It faced Crawford Street, and was used nearly fifteen years. But that locality soon became a manufacturing neighborhood, and the congregation finally saw their error in building on the north end of the lots. Mr. Lunt's successors up to the erection of the present church were Revs. J. A. Kellam, David Gray, J. S. Holmes, Thomas Parker, L. B. Gurley, Gershom Lease, J. S. Kalb, Joseph Wykes and Isaac. Newton. The last mentioned came in 1866, and under his pastorate the building was erected.

The question of rebuilding the church had been agitated during Rev. Parker's pastorate, and during that of Rev. Lease an effort to raise the necessary amount by subscription was made, but the great Rebellion broke out, and the matter rested until 1864-65, when, in consideration of the absolute necessity of expensive repairs in order to continue worship in the old church, it was generally agreed that the wisest and most economical plan was to prepare to build. A subscription was accordingly circulated in the fall and winter of 1865-66, and nearly $15,000 secured, which, with the material of the old building, gave resources to the amount of $17,500, and at a special meeting of the church it was agreed to proceed at once to build. C. A. Croninger, H. P. Gage and S. D. Frey were appointed a building committee, and James Harsh treasurer. The corner-stone of the new structure, on Sandusky Street, was laid September 12, 1866, Prof. P. S. Donelson, president of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, Delaware, Ohio, delivering the oration. The same gentleman conducted the ceremonies, in which he was assisted by Revs. Isaac Newton, Joseph Wykes and David Gray. The building was originally intended to cost about $16,000, but ere its completion in 1868, together with its subsequent remodeling, the total expense had reached about $40,000. It is quite a massive, handsome structure, with a towering spire 180 feet in height, and the main audience room will comfortably seat 700 people. The basement is utilized for Sunday-school, lecture room, ete., and the whole building is a great credit to the congregation. The Rev. Newton filled the pastorate three years, and his successors have been as follows: Oliver Kennedy, 1869-72; Isaiah R. Henderson, 1872-73; William Jones, 1873-76; Parker P. Pope, 1876-78; J. F. Davies, 1878-81; E. D. Whitlock, 1881-82; William I. Yingling, 1882-83; Samuel L. Beiler, 1883-84; Andrew J. Fish, 1884-1886. The church now contains a membership of 54(), also 60 probationers, and a flourishing Sundayschool with an enrollment of 457 scholars.

The First Presbyterian Church of Findlay was organized December 21, 1831, by Rev. Peter Monfort, who came that year as a missionary from the southern part of the State, and held numerous services in Findlay and other parts of the county. These meetings were always held in the cabins of the pioneers, as there were then no public buildings of any kind except the old log schoolhouse in Findlay, where the people could gather to hear preaching. This society was organized at the house of Wilson Vance, and embraced the following members: Wilson Vance and wife, Sarah; William Taylor and wife, Margaret; William Coen and wife, Sarah; Ebenezer Wilson; Phoebe Henderson, wife of William L. Henderson; Asa Lake and wife, Chloe, and Mary Gibson. Messrs. Wilson and Coen were chosen and ordained ruling elders of the new organization. All of the foregoing members were pioneers of the county, and are fully spoken of in the histories of the townships wherein they resided. Rev. Monfort continued his labors in this field for nearly three years, and the Findlay Church was then supplied by Rev. T. B. Clark, of Logan County, in the latter part of 1833 and the early part of the following year. Mr. Monfort spent some time with this church in 1835, and Rev. John L. Belleville, of Dayton, Ohio, also visited the Findlay congregation the same year.

Rev. George Van Eman, a member of the Redstone Presbytery of Pennsylvania, who removed to Hancock County in 1835, was the first settled pastor of the Findlay Church, and he filled that position until 1841.

Irregular services were held in private houses, until the erection of the first court house, after which worship was more regular. During the pastorate of Mr. Van Eman a plain frame building was put up on Lot 132, East Crawford Street, where the oil-mill of McManness & Seymour now stands. A deed for this lot was made to the trustees of the church December Ade 1837, the consideration being $250, and we presume the building was erected in 1838. It remained unpainted for several years, and was at first supplied with temporary slab seats without backs, and a rough platform from which the preacher expounded the gospel. These benches in time gave place to more comfortable pews; while a square box about 4x6 feet in dimensions and five and a half feet high was constructed for a pulpit. During the passing years quite a number united with the church, among the best known of whom were John Ewing, Samuel Moorhead, John Burns, Frederick Henderson and Paul Sours. All of these men are fully spoken of elsewhere in this work. Mr. Van Eman was succeeded in June, 1841, by Rev. Simon Peck, who remained only one year. In 1842 Revs. F. A. Shearer and Alexander Cowan, both of Richland County, preached in Findlay, but neither became pastor. In the fall of that year Rev. R. H. Hollyday received a call from the church to become their pastor, which he accepted. This relation continued until May, 1854, during which period nearly 200 members were added to the church. Mr. Hollyday is yet a resident of Findlay. In May, 1845, William Taylor presented the church with a bell - the first one brought to the village - purchased in Cincinnati by Frederick Henderson. It was shipped to Findlay on the canal via Dayton, Piqua and Defiance to Perrysburg, and thence hauled to Findlay in a wagon. It was hung in a belfry erected on the old church and first rang September 11, 1845.

After Mr. Hollyday retired from the pastorate, occasional services were held by visiting ministers, but in January, 1855, Rev. J. A. Meeks took charge of the church. By this time the growth of the congregation made necessary a larger place of worship, and soon after Mr. Meeks became pastor preliminary steps were taken in that direction. Two lots on West Crawford Street had been sold or rather given to the church in September, 1852, by J. S. Van Eman, the consideration being only $10. But these lots did not suit, and in August, 1855, Lot 16, on the northeast corner of Main and Hardin Streets, where the church now stands, was purchased for $700. In the spring of 1856 the lots on Crawford Street were sold, and that year the church resolved to enter upon the work of erecting the present brick structure. The building committee were William Taylor, Frederick Henderson and Albert Langworthy, all well-remembered citizens of the village. The building was completed in the fall of 1857, at a cost of nearly $8,900, and dedicated free from any encumbering debt, December 27, 1857. In May, 1858, the property on East Crawford Street was sold to William Anderson and J. D. McKibben, who converted it into a woolen-mill. Mr. Meeks was pastor of the church more than ten years, retiring in the spring of 1865. He is one of the old and honored residents of the town and is highly respected by all good citizens. During the latter portion of Mr. Meeks' service considerable dissension arose as to his further retention as pastor, which culminated in the secession of about forty-three members, who, in 1865 organized the First Congregational Church of Findlay, and called Mr. Meeks to the pastorate. Though he served the new society long and faith- fully he still remained at heart a Presbyterian, and finally resigned and returned to his own denomination, accepting a call from the Presbyterian society of Ada, Ohio.

Following Mr. Meeks, the Revs, L. H. Long and J. M. Cross, of Urbana, Ohio, paid frequent visits to Findlay, and preached with much acceptance, and, in the fall of 1865, the latter was called to the pastorate. Mr. Cross filled the pulpit until October, 1869, and it was afterward supplied by Revs. D. B. Harvey and A. B. Fields occasionally. In November, 1869, a call was extended to Mr. Fields and he was subsequently installed pastor. He served until April, 1872. Rev. Eban Muse was the successor of Mr. Fields and filled the pulpit for three years, commencing with the fall of 1872. In May, 1876, R. R. Sutherland was installed as pastor and held the position until November, 1880. A vacancy of one year now occurred in the pastorate, until the coming of Rey. John C. Watt, in the fall of 1881. The present pastor, Rev. J. R. Mitchell, of Indianapolis, succeeded Mr. Watt in December, 1885. The present membership of this church is 250, and there is also a growing Sunday-school with an enrollment of about 300. In April, 1886, Mr. Mitchell began the publication of The Invitation, a small three-column folio monthly paper, published in the interests of the First Presbyterian Church. The Invitation will no doubt prove an efficient local aid in disseminating church news, to which cause it is exclusively devoted.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church became a distinct organization September 19, 1846, though it had been in process of formation for some years. In 1839 Rey. M. Cortex, a German Lutheran missionary, came to Findlay, and preached at intervals for about two years to the adherents of the Lutheran and Reformed churches. His successor was Rev. Charles Wisler, a minister of the Reformed denomination, who served the people of both faiths from 1841 to 1848. In the latter year Rev. J. B. Hoffman took charge of the mission, and remained nearly two years. Early in 1845 Rev. George Hammer succeeded Mr. Hoffman, and the church record for February of that year gives a list of sixty communicants, made up, doubtless, of both Reformed and Lutherans. Pursuant to previous notice a majority of the members of the Lutheran faith met at the court house in Findlay, September 19, 1846, for the purpose of appointing three trustees and a clerk, under the legislative act passed March 12, 1844, entitled "An act to provide for the appointment of trustees for the control of associated religious societies, and to define their powers and duties." Rev. Isaac Livengood opened the meeting with prayer, when Isaac Teatsorth was called to the chair, and Rey. Livengood appointed secretary. It was resolved that the society should bear the name of the " Evangelical Lutheran Church of Findlay." Samuel Snyder, Samuel Reber and George Welker were appointed trustees, and Andrew Newstetter clerk. Early in 1847 Lot 52, on West Crawford Street, was purchased for the sum of $200, and on the 8th of March Abraham Daughenbaugh, Simon Wilhelm and Samuel Snyder were chosen as a building committee, and a subscription taken up toward the erection of a house of worship, which was built that year. Mr. Hammer was pastor of the church from 1549 until his resignation, in August, 1849, and during this period the congregation had largely increased in numbers and acquired a good church property.

1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. Motris Officer. In December, 1850, the record shows 101 communicants, and in 1853, 118.~ Rev. Officer held the pastorate only one year, and in the fall of 1855 Rev. A. J. Imhoff became his successor, and remained pastor of the church ten years. Prior to April, 1858, the Findlay charge embraced the whole county, but at that time the Findlay and Eagle Township (Zoll's) congregations became one charge, separating from Arcadia and Fostoria. In 1860 a bell was purchased, which is now doing good service in the new edifice. Mr. Imhoff resigned October 15, 1865, and Rev. S. A. Ort was the next pastor,. and served until the spring of 1867. Rev. H. B. Belmer held the pastorate for the succeeding two years, resigning in March, 1869. Rev. Kinsell filled the pulpit during the next three months, and was then succeeded by Rev. P. S. Hooper. In November, 1869, Lots 5 and 6, on the southeast corner of Main and Lincoln Streets, were purchased at a cost of $1,200, and a small frame parsonage erected thereon the following year. Mr. Hooper resigned in December, 1871, and in February, 1872, Rev. George W. Miller was chosen pastor. An effort was made by the congregation, in 1873, looking toward the erection of a new church, and also to unite the Lutheran and Congregational societies, but both failed. In January, 1874, the connection with the Eagle Township society was severed, and the pastors of the Findlay church have since devoted their entire attention to this congregation. Mr. Miller resigned at the close of 1876, and in March, 1877, Rev. C. S. Sprecher was chosen as his successor, and filled the pulpit three years. Rev. J. W. Goodlin was the next pastor, coming in July, 1880, and serving about one year.

On the 29th of November, 1880, the council of the church resolved to take steps toward the erection of a new building, as a larger and more modern structure had now become an actual necessity. The parsonage was moved to the east side of the lots on the corner of Main and Lincoln Streets, and ground was broken for the new edifice May 9, 1881. The corner-stone was laid on Monday evening, August 8, 1881, Rev. J. F. Davies, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delivering the oration, and on Sunday, June 4, 1882, the church was dedicated to the service of God. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. S. Ort, D. D., who was then president of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. The old property on Crawford Street was sold in April, 1882, to John Shull for the sum of $1,300. In the meantime Mr. Goodlin was succeeded, in 1881, by Rev. E. K. Bell, who served until October, 1884. Under his pastorate the new building was carried to completion. His successor was the present pastor, Rev. William M. Smith, who came to Findlay in January, 1885. This church has a membership of 200, and a Sunday-school enrollment of 225. The congregation are especially proud of their house of worship, the total cost of which was about $15,000. It is a substantial, handsome brick and stone edifice of composite architecture, with a large square tower gracing the northwest corner, and possessing a beautiful, massive, stained-glass window in each end of the main audience room, and a similar one in the west side of the Sunday-school room. Large sliding docrs separate these rooms, which can thus be thrown into one, giving a seating capacity of 600 - 400 for the audience room and 200 for the Sunday-school room. In harmony of design and finish, this building is regarded as superior to any other church of

St. Michael's Catholic Church comes next in the order of time. In the fall of 1840 mass was celebrated in John Engelman's house by the Rt. Rey. John B. Purcell, bishop of the Cincinnati diocese, while on one of his missionary tours through the State. Michael Price, a deceased pioneer of Pleasant Township, and Mrs. John S. Julien, yet a resident of Findlay, were the first practical Catholics who located in this county, both coming in 1834. Mrs. Martin Hollabaugh and Mrs. John Engelman were the next. The former, now Mrs. Jacob Carr, settled south of Findlay in 1835, and Mrs. Engelman came to the village with her husband in August, 1836. In 1853 Mr. Engelman became a convert to the Catholic faith, and is yet among the most worthy members of the church. Mrs. Ellen Green, Mrs. James Fitzgibbons and John S. Julien came to Findlay soon after Mr. Engelman effected a settlement. Mr. Julien married Miss Mary C. Seacker in 1888, and the sacrifice of the mass was occasionally celebrated by Father McNamee, of Tiffin, and other visiting priests at the houses of Mr. Julien and Mr. Engelman. Other pioneer Catholics were Mrs. Jacob Barnd and Caroline Grate (sisters), Louis Adams and family, Michael Adams, John Hines and wife, Joseph Davis, Mrs. Peter Krebs, Hiram Vagley and family, Joseph Fleck, James Sheridan and family, Patrick Sweeney and family, and Martin and Peter Karst and families, of whom Frank and John B., sons of Martin and Peter, respectively, were young men, all coming between 1837 and 1850. Ofthese Mr. Engelman, Mr. Julien and wife, Mis. Jacob Carr, Mrs. Fitzgibbons, Caroline Grate, Mrs. Louis Adams, Mrs. Hines, Joseph Fleck, Mr. Sheridan, Mrs. Sweeney and Frank and John B. Karst are yet living in Findlay and members of St. Michael's Congregation. Services were held at intervals, generally at the house of Mr. Julien and in a room fitted up by Mr. Engelman in a frame barn erected by him in 1848. Father Howard, a well remembered missionary priest, also preached in the court house to a large audience during one of his periodical visits, for the purpose of explaining Catholic doctrine, and fhus assist in breaking down the strong prejudice which then existed against members of that faith. Rev. P. A. Capeder, now at New Riegel, came occasionally throughout 1850, and Rey. L. Molon in 1851.

By this time quite a number of Catholics had settled in Findlay, and in the summer and fall of 1851 a small frame was built on Lot 65, on the southwest corner of Hardin Street and Farmer's Alley, and subsequently dedicated as St. Michael's Church. This lot was purchased by Bishop Rappe, of D.J.Cory, for the sum of $75, though a deed was not obtained until 1861. In 1852 Rev. Michael Sullivan was appointed to take charge of the Findlay Mission, and came regularly until 1855. Rev. T. J. B. Uhlmann also visited the congregation in the latter year. Rev. Joseph L. Behn, of Tiffin, began visiting Findlay in 1856, and continued about two years. Revs. W. Bally and N. Gales celebrated mass here and baptized children of the congregation in 1858, but Rev. J. M. Roetzer was the first resident pastor of St. Michael's Church. He came in 1859, and the same year opened a parish school in an old frame building on East Sandusky Street, and subsequently in a room erected for that purpose adjoining the Church. A Frenchman named Pettee was the first teacher. Father Roetzer was pastor until February, 1862, and was succeeded by Rey. A. Behrens. The latter remained about a year, and in 1863 Rey. M. Dechant took charge of the congregation. The building in the meantime had been enlarged to meet the grow- ing wants of the church. Early in February, 1866, a fine bell, weighing 1,800 pounds, was purchased at an expense of $1,000, and set upon a low trestle near the church; but on the 16th of the same month the building was burned to the ground, the fire starting in a defective flue in the school room. The weather was extremely cold, but a united, effort on the part of the citizens present saved the bell, which hangs in the belfry of the present church, and is regarded as the best bell in the county. Father Dechant began at once the preliminary work toward the erection of a new church, but the old lot was considered too small, and the present site of the church and pastor's residence on West Main Cross Street was donated for the purpose by Louis Adams. The foundation was commenced in the spring of 1866, and on Sunday, August 19, of that year, the corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Amedeus Rappe, bishop of the Cleveland diocese, assisted by Father Dechant, Rev. Joseph L. Behn, of Tiffin, and Messrs. A. S. Siebenfoercher and M. Pietz, two students of St. Mary's Seminary of Cincinnati and Cleveland, respectively, subsequently ordained to the priesthood. (Father Siebenfoercher has been pastor of the Kenton Church since his ordination, and Father Pietz held services in Findlay after becoming a priest, and is well remembered by the congregation.) Mass was celebrated in the morning in Wheeler's Hall, and in the afternoon Bishop Rappe laid the corner-stone and delivered an impressive discourse to a large concourse of people, many of whom were from neighboring towns. The building was so far completed as to be occupied in the fall of 1867, though it is not yet entirely finished, and has not been dedicated. During the process of erection services were held in a room in the Central House building.

Rey. Edward J. Vattmann became pastor of St. Michael's in the spring of 1867, and the building was erected under his pastorate, which lasted two years. The old lot on Hardin Street was sold to James Sheridan in 1868 for $325. Rev. N. Flammang came in 1869 and left in 1870. Rey. M. Pietz also visited the congregation in the latter year. In 1871 Rev. John B. Jung (pronounced Young) was appointed pastor, and soon after coming partitioned off a small room in the church and re-established the parish school, which had not been in operation since the burning of the old frame church in 1866. In 1875 he built the present brick schoolhouse southwest of the church. Father Jung was an earnest, hard-working priest, and accomplished a great deal of good during his pastorate. He was removed to Defiance in 1878, and Rev. M. Arnoldi, of Fostoria, ministered to the spiritual wants of the congregation until the advent of Rev. George Rudolf in 1879, who remained two years. The present pastor, Rev. Henry Doerner, succeeded him in 1881, and has ever since continued to labor in building up the church in this portion of God's vineyard. St. Michael's congregation embraces some eighty families, and the parish school has an average attendance of seventy pupils. The usual branches of study taught in the primary public schools are taught in St. Michael's, and in connection therewith the pupil also obtains a thorough religious instruction in the fundamental principles of Christianity. The congregation own a small cemetery of two acres adjoining Maple Grove, which was purchased in February, 1863, at a cost of $400. Though not entirely free of debt, St. Michael's may nevertheless be regarded as a prosperous congregation. A number of societies are connected with the church to assist in the promotion of charity and good works. St. Michael's Benevolent Society, organized in

1868, is one of these, but only practical Catholic males between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years are eligible to membership. - Mr. Frank Karet, Sr., has been president of this society since its organization, and it has accomplished much good during this period in rendering devoted attention and assistance to the sick, and in distribution of weekly benefits.

The United Brethren Church of Findlay can be traced back to January 17, 1853, when Henry Hartman, Nimrod Bright, Joel Pendleton, Jesse Wheeler and J. T. Crites were trustees in charge of a subscription to raise funds to purchase a lot and erect a house of worship. At this time services were occasionally held in the little brick schoolhouse then standing on West Front Street. In May, 1854, Lot No. 78 on the southwest corner of West and Crawford Streets, was purchased for $250, and the present brick building commenced that year and carried to completion in 1855. Rev. Chester Briggs was the minister in charge during the erection of the building. Joel Pendleton and wife, Robert Owens and wife, Jacob Powell and wife, and H. Van Gundy were among the first members of this society. The successors of Mr. Briggs have been Revs. Michael Long, William Mathers, Case, Dunn, Percy Moore, J. French, Alvin Rose, R. French, William Glancy, T. J. Harbaugh, T. D. Ingle, James Long, M. Shestler, A. W. Holden, J. P. Macklin, E. A. Starkey, J. Kirk, E. B. Maurer, I. Crouse and S. H. Raudebaugh, the present pastor of thechurch. The membership is about 160, with a Sunday-school enrollment of about 120. The society has now in contemplation the erection of a new house of worship during the present year, and is therefore in a prosperous condition.

The German Reformed Congregation had its inception in February, 1854, when they and the German Lutherans organized a society with Charles Dietsch, president; Henry Matthias, superintendent; John Schneyer, treasurer; Abraham W. Schwab and Peter Roszmann, trustees. They jointly purchased Lot 54 on West Front Street February 3, 1854, for the sum of $278, and worshiped at intervals in the old Presbyterian Church on Crawford Street, and sometimes in the court house. This state of things continued until the spring of 1858, when a separation took place, and each subsequently formed a distinct organization. The members of the Reformed denomination were at once organized by Rev. H. Kortheuer, the society then embracing some fourteen persons. On the 6th of November, 1858, the following members met in Schwab's new building for the p of incorporating said society, viz.: Abraham W. Schwab, Michael Guntner, Samuel Schwab, William Gassman, Abraham Newhouse, Ulrich Weiget and Sebastian Baker. Michael Guntner was chairman, and William Gassman, secretary. Thesociety adopted ''German Reformed Congregation of Findlay' as the official name of the church, and elected Abraham W. Schwab, Samuel Schwab and Ulrich Weiger trustees, and William Gassman, clerk. On the 29th of the same month the society sold its interest in the lot on West Front Street to the German Lutherans for $114.50; and in February, 1859, purchased ground on East Main Cross Street at a cost of $800, upon which the present brick building was erected, in 1860, at a total expense of about $2,000. Rev. Mr. Schuette was then in charge of the congregation (having succeeded Rev. Kortheuer), which had usually worshiped in the court house prior to that time. The successive ministers since. Mr. Schuette have been Revs. Martin Miller, John G. Ruhl (who came in 1863, served the society eleven years, and is yet a resident of Find- lay), A. Knotzky, George Behrents and ©. Badetscher, the present incumbent, who has filled the pulpit semi-monthly during the past eight years. The society embraces about fifty members, and has a Sunday-school with some thirty-five pupils. Sebastian Baker, Samuel Schwab, Christoph Vollweiler, Abraham W. Schwab, Jr., John Weiss and Gottlieb Schwab are about the only members of the original society now belonging to the Findlay Church.

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation. - The original members of this society formed an organization with those of the Reformed faith in February, 1854, and worshiped together up to the spring of 1858, when they separated. The same month the joint organization was formed Lot 54 on West Front Street was purchased at a cost of $278, but after each faith had organized a separate society the Lutherans purchased the interest of the Reformed Church (November 29, 1858,) for the sum of $114.50. On the 29th of August, 1858, the German Lutherans held a meeting in the court house, with Ernest Kempf, chairman, and Michael Glanner, secretary. At this meeting the ''German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation'' was organized; and Charles Dietsch, Peter Roszman and Michael Glauner chosen trustees, and Ernst Kempf, clerk. Rey. M. During was the minister who effected the organization, and the society met for worship in the court house semi-monthly. In 1862 the present brick church on West Front Street was built upon the lot purchased by the Reformed and Lutherans in 1854. The building committee was Charles Dietsch, Charles Hahn, Henry Lannert, Ernst Kempf and Edward Dietsch, and the structure was completed at a total expense of $2,500, and dedicated and first occupied on Whit Sunday in 1863. Revs. M. During, H. Lang and G. Crownenwitt conducted the dedicatory services. <A good bell has since been procured, and a parsonage bought on Front Street, not far from the church, at a cost of $1,900. Rev. Martin Buerkle succeeded M. During, and served the congregation eleven years. His successors have been Revs. J. T. Groth, J. B. Webber and EK. L. T. Engers, the present pastor. St. John's embraces some eighty-three families, and has a flourishing Sunday-school of about 100 scholars.

The First Regular Baptist Church of Findlay, though now a defunct organization, forms a part of the church history of the village. In the fall of 1854 a series of meetings were held in a schoolhouse on Chamberlin's Hill, by Rev. G. D. Oviatt, and those who then embraced the Baptist faith attached themselves to the Baptist Society in Amanda Township, and organized a Sunday school on the hill, of which Job Chamberlin was chosen superintendent. On the 27th of January, 1857, they withdrew from the Amanda Township society, and February 21 following, organized the First Regular Baptist Church of Findlay, with Rev. G. D. Oviatt as pastor; Samuel A. Spear and Charles Swap, deacons, and Job Chainberlin, clerk. The organizers were Samuel F. Hull, Charles Swap, Job Chamberlin Samuel A. Spear, G. D. Oviatt, Emanuel Phifer, John Bechtel, Solomon Wolf, Joel Routson, John Dyche, Charles Twining and Irvin 8. Chamberlin. Job Chamberlin, Charles Swap and Samuel F. Hull were elected trustees on the date of organization. The society then embraced forty-one members, and also a good Sunday-school, with Job Chamberlin, superintendent. The meetings were held in the court house, as the society never owned a building. Soon after the Rebellion broke out the church became dismem- pered, and, though the Baptists have held occasional services in Findlay up to as late as 1877, the society has never been resuscitated. The ''Church of God" is one of the later religious organizations of Findlay. Elder William Adams was the pioneer minister of this denomination in Hancock County, and a small society was organized by him in 1848, at the house of John Bolton, six miles west of the village. For the succeeding eight years occasional services were held in the county, though very little progress was made. In August, Elder R. H. Bolton (son of John Bolton) began to preach, and a year afterward he was appointed assistant to Elder J. M. West, on the Blanchard Circuit. The following year (1857) Elders W. McCormick and R. H. Bolton traveled this circuit, which included Findlay. Ocvasional services were held in the old Presbyterian Church on East Crawford Street, a few adherents of this faith having previously located in the village. Here, on the 18th of January, 1858, a society of twelve members was organized by Elders George W. Harn, of Wooster, Ohio, and R. H. Bolton, of Findlay, who, for ten days, had been holding a series of meetings. Among the members of this society were J. C. Sherrick and wife, George M. Grauel and wife, Jacob Grose and wife, John T. Grose and wife, Emernder Geyer and Elizabeth Cunningham. Meetings were afterward held from time to time in private houses, but the organization finally became extinct, and Findlay was abandoned as a regular preaching place. In the fall of 1861 Elder R. H. Bolton was again appointed to this field, and took up his residence in Findlay. He held a series of meetings in the winter of 1861-62, in the North Findlay schoolhouse, which resulted in the formation of a society of nineteen members. The work was continued, and in the winter of 1862-63, the membership was swelled to sixty. Mr. Bolton was succeeded, in 1864, by Elder W. P. Small, who preached every two weeks until the fall of 1865, when Elder G. W. Wilson came on the circuit. From 1868 to 1866 the society met in the United Brethren building. In April, 1866, Lot 37, on West Front Street, was purchased for $350, and the erection of the present brick church commenced. The building was completed at a cost of about $4,000, and dedicated December 380, 1866, by Elder J. B. Soul, of Wooster, Ohio, and the minister in charge, Mr. Wilson. The church had been incorporated in the fall of 1866, and James Ferguson, Peter Sherrick and David Funk elected trustees, John Ferguson, treasurer, and John T. Grose, clerk. A Sunday-school was organized, January 5, 1867, and is still in successful operation. In the summer of 1867, Elder Wilson resigned and Elder Adams came at intervals until October, when Elders J. W. Aukerman and Warner were appointed to serve the Findlay society in connection with McComb Circuit. In October, 1868, Elder Aukerman took charge, and his successors have been as follows: Elders T. H. Deshirie, 1869-70; J. M. Cassel, 1870-72; J. W. Aukerman, 1872-73; W. P. Small, 1873-75; Solomon Kline, 1875-76; J. V. Updyke, 1876-78. Large accessions to the church occurred under Mr. Updyke; but in January, 1878, he '' professed to receive and began to teach the doctrine of sanctification,'' which was regarded by many members as an innovation, and he was replaced by W. P. Burchard, who served till the following autumn. Then came W. P. Small, 1878-80; S. Dickerhoof, 1880-1881; J. M. Cassel, 1881-82; R. H. Bolton, 1882-84; Charles Winbigler, 1884, and is the present pastor. In December, 1884, the society took possession of the Congregational Church, held services there until the spring of 1886, and then returned to their own '' Bethel,'' on Front Street. This society has had a steady, healthy growth, and, from small beginnings, it has gradually increased to a membership of 180, with a Sunday-school enrollment of 100. Besides their church building they also own a good parsonage on Main Street, in North Findlay, which was purchased in 1879. The opening of the new college during the present year will, doubtless, give fresh impetus to the growth of this church in Hancock County, and under the labors of Elder Winbigler, its present able and eloquent minister, the Findlay scciety will, we predict, go forward on a still more prosperous career.

The First Congregational Church was organized October 21, 1865, in Gage's Hall, by Rev. Robert McCune, of Kelly's Island. The society had its inception in the spring of 1865, through the disagreement of the members of the First Presbyterian Church over the further retention of Rev. J. A. Meeks as pastor of that body, those opposing that gentleman being subsequently upheld by the Presbytery. His friends then applied to the Presbytery for authority to organize a ''Second Presbyterian Church,'' but the application was refused, the result of which was the secession of about forty-three members, with the old pastor, and the formation of the First Congregational Church. On the day of organization the following officers were chosen: Paul Sours, John Eckels, James Davidson and Aaron Hall, deacons; J. S. Ballentine, treasurer, and James A. Bope, clerk; while Rev. J. A. Meeks was called to the pastorate. In March, 1866, the church was incorporated as ''The First Congregational Church of Findlay,'' and Lot 27, on the west side of the public square, was purchased for the sum of $2,500. The erection of a building thereon was commenced in the spring of 1867, the committee in charge being Paul Sours, James P. Kerr, Jesse Guise and J. C. Powell, and the following December the present commodious brick structure was completed at a cost of about $17,000. Mr. Meeks served the congregation faithfully about five years, and left the church in a flourishing state. He was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Peterson, under whose pastorate, in January, 1872, a chime of bells was put into the belfry at an expense of over $1,000. During Mr. Peterson's term of service considerable trouble arose in the church, which was the entering wedge of its present disorganized condition. His successors were Revs. Thomas Gordon, H. D. Kutz, D. F. Davies and E. B. Chase. The last mentioned left in 1884. since which time the congregation has been without a pastor. In December, 1884, the ''Church of God'' took possession of the building, and occupied it until the spring of 1886.

St. Paul Church of the Evangelical Association dates back to the annual conference of said association held in May, 1870, when an English mission consisting of the Findlay, Fellar's, Porter's and Union Chapel societies was organized, and Rev. E. B. Crouse placed in charge. Services were generally held in the United Brethren Church. On the 11th of July, 1870, ''The Findlay Society of the Evangelical Association of North America' was incorporated, and John Powell, J ohn Crites and L. W. Hankey, elected trustees, and L. W. Hankey, clerk. At this time it was decided to erect a house of worship, and Lot 137 on East Sandusky Street was purchased for $1,000. The present brick building was at once commenced, and in October, 1870, was completed and dedicated at a total cost of about $6,000. The congregation have recently built a neat frame parsonage upon the same lot but facing on Crawford Street. Mr. Crouse served the society until 1872

Trinity Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church was organized on the 19th of July, 1881, by Rev. D. W. Coxe, of Fremont. This gentleman held the first Episcopal service in the old Lutheran Church on West Crawford Street, May 16, and in June he and Rey. J. L. Taylor, of Lima, began holding alternate services in Findlay, which culminated in the organization of " Trinity Mission." Thirty-four names were signed to the request sent to Bishop Bedell. On the 8th of November, 1881, Rev. Dr. White and L. S. Osberne held services in Findlay, and on that day the congregation resolved to rent a room in which to worship. A room in the Courier Block was aecordingly procured, and February 19, 1882, Rev. George Bosley, of Kenton, Onio, was appointed rector of Trinity Mission. He served until September 30, 1882, on which date he held his last service in Findlay, and resigned the charge the following November. Since that time no service has been held, and the mission has gone out of existence.

The " Church of Christ," better known as the Disciples, was organized with twenty-eight members December 14, 1884, under the direction of Rev. William J. Lhamon, of Kenton, Ohio. Prior to this various ministers of this denomination preached incidental sermons in Findlay, viz.: Revs. W. M. Broader, M. Riddle, Alanson Wilcox and William J. Lhamon. During the spring and summer of 1884, Mr. Lhamon preached frequently on weekday evenings. In December he held meetings for several days, which resulted in the organization of the society. At the time of organization the work was placed under the direction of the following committee: Henry Shank, Jr., Henry C. Lanning, A. A. Dillinger, Mrs. Kate M. Kagy, Mrs. Hannah Ross and Mrs. Orpha L. Humason. Services have been held in the Reformed Church, on East Main Cross Street, up to the present. Mr. Lhamon continued to preach for the church until the spring of 1886, when the services of Rev. 5. M. Cook, of North Eaton, Ohio, were secured, who now preaches for the congregation, which has a membership of thirty-six.

Secret and Other Societies. - Hancock Lodge, No. 78, I. O. O. F., was instituted August 17, 1846, the charter members being Abraham Younkin, Jacob Carr, Edson Goit, Abel F. Parker and James H. Barr. It is the oldest secret society in the village, and now contains about 210 members. On the 12th of June, 1872, the lodge dedicated their fine hall, located in a substantial three-story brick building, on the east side of Main Street, which they erected that year at a total cost of over $10,000.

The Golden Rule Encampment, No. 92, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 21, 1866, under a charter granted May 2, 1866, to L. G. Thrall, Charles E. Niles, Sylvester M. Geyer, William McKinnis, Charles J. Krause, William L. Glessner, Henry B. Green and George W. Neeley. The Encampment has a membership of 105, and holds its meetings in the Odd Fellows' lodge room.

Findlay Lodge, No. 227, F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation January 16, 1852. On the 22d of October following a charter was granted to Abraham Younkin, Abel F. Parker, Edwin Parker, David Patton, James M. Coffinberry, George Arnold, Adolphus Morse, Eli S. Reed and Cloys B. Wilson, with Abraham Younkin, W. M.; James M. Coffinberry, S. W.; George Arnold, J. W. The lodge was duly instituted November 9, 1852, with the following officers: Abraham Younkin, W. M.; George W. Springer, S. W.; William L. Henderson, J. W.; Eli S. Reed, Treas.; David Patton, Sec. ; Thomas McKee, 8S. D.; John E. Rosette, J. D.; George Arnold, Tyler. The meetings were first held in the old Jonathan Parker building, on the site of Patterson's Block, and subsequently in the " Old White Corner," and Joy House Block. In 1878 the lodge obtained their present quarters, on the east side of Main Street north of Crawford, which they fitted up and have since occupied. The membership in good standing is about seventy-five.

Findlay Chapter, No. 58, R. A. M., was organized by dispensation granted March 22, 1854. On the 16th of October, 1854, a charter was granted to Abraham Younkin, James A. Kellum, William L. Henderson, Benjamin Metcalf, 8. T. Heffner and George Arnold. The membership is now about furty, and the Chapter meets in the lodge-room on Main Street.

Findlay Council, No. 50, R. & S. M., was organized by dispensation June 19, 1867, and on the 12th of October following James Wilson, H. D. Ballard, B. F. Kimmons, W. E. Snyder, D. B. Beardsley, J. M. Huber, William Anderson, M. B. Patterson and Isaac Bonham were granted a charter. The membership is now fourteen.

Findlay Lodge, No. 85, K. of P., was instituted May 27, 1875, with twentynine charter members. The charter was surrendered February 24, 1879, and the lodge reorganized under the old charter September 21, 1883. It now embraces a membership of forty, and meets in the G. A. R. Hall, in the Patterson block.

The Harmonia Society, a German musical association, was organized May 12, 1875, with eight active members. This society has fitted up a small hall over Herman Rogge's grocery store, on West Main Cross Street, where they mect for social pleasure. A few concerts are given in this hall during the year, which are well attended by the German population of the village.

Charity Lodge, No. 770, K. of H.. was chartered September 11, 1878, by D. C. Connell, Henry B. Green, F. W. Entrikin, Ernest Bacher, W. H. Shuler, H. W. Blecker, J. M. Beelman. G. H. Wheeler, E. G. DeWolfe, William Edwards, J. C. Bushon and Timothy Fellers. The membership is now only nineteen. and the lodge has not been meeting for some time.

Hancock Council, No. 187, R. A., was instituted in November, 1878, with thirty-four charter members, and has now thirty-eight. Dr. J. H. Boger's dental rooms is their place of meeting.

Stoker Post, No. 54. G. A. R.. was chartered April 7, 1881, with thirty-two members, and has since increased its membership to 120. The Post has a fine room in the Patterson Block, and has accomplished much g since its organization.

Fort Findlay Council, No. 79, N. U., was organized April 18, 1884, with thirty-nine members. It meets at the I. O. G. T. Hall, on Main Street.

Rescue Lodge, No. 80, I. O. G. T., was chartered with thirty-nine members March 21, 1884, and has now over 200. Their lodge-room is located in the Henderson Block, on Main Street. There are two temples connected with Rescue Lodge. and that work in harmony with it, viz.: Mason Juvenile Temple, No. 39, chartered September 3, 1885, with sixty members, and now has 175; and Juvenile Temple, No. 15, chartered November 20, 1885, with twenty mombers, and now has forty-five. The principal object of the I. O. G. T. is to further the cause.of temperance, and rescue fallen humanity from the thraldom of strong drink. To this noble work thousands of earnest men and women all over this broad land are devoting their energies, fighting the demon that has destroyed so many happy homes and wrecked the lives of millions of God's children.

Chapter Xxxii Findlay Continued

HOTELS, MANUFACTORIES, BANKS AND PUBLIC PLACES OF AMUSEMENT - PIONEER TAVERNS AND PRESENT HOTELS OF FINDLAY - LEADING MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT - HISTORY OF THE SUCCESSIVE BANKING INSTITUTIONS OF THE TOWN - BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS - EARLY AMUSEMENTS AND PUBLIC HALLS OF THE VILLAGE - BRASS BANDS.

S hotels, manufacturing establishments, banks and places of amusement occupy a prominent place in the business and social life of every town, it is fitting that a chapter in the history of Findlay should be devoted to the past and present of such institutions. The first hotel, or rather tavern, on the site of Findlay, was kept by Benjamin J. Cox, who located at Fort Findlay, in 1815, and took possession of a story and a half hewed-log house, erected and occupied by a man named Thorp during the war of 1812. This frontier tavern stood on the east side of Main Street, immediately south of the bridge, and was kept by Cox till the coming of Wilson Vance, in November, 1821, when he had to give it up to the latter, whose brother, Joseph, and Elnathan Cory had previously entered the land upon which it stood. Mr. Vance continued the tavern until 1831, when he abandoned the business. In 1827 board at Vance's tavern was $1.50 per week, and even at that price good, plain, substantial meals were always set upon the table. In 1828 William Taylor opened the '' Findlay Inn' in a small building on the site of Rothchild's fiate store, which he carried on in connection with his store until 1833, when he sold it to Abraham Daughenbaugh, who ran it about four years, and then rented the property to M. M. Nigh. The latter kept tavern here a couple of years, and was succeeded by Alonzo D. Wing. This tavern was conducted a number of years. \

John Bashore erected a large two-story hewed-log building in 1829-30 on the site of the Carnahan Block, in which he opened a tavern. In the spring of 1832 the property was purchased by Maj. John Patterson, and Bashore soon afterward removed to Lima. In the spring of 1834 Mr. Patterson located permanently, and traded this property to James H. Wilson for a two-story frame on the site of the Humphrey House, where a tavern had previously been kept by Jeremiah Case, who leased the property from Mr. Wilson. The building was erected by Thomas F. Johnston, who sold it to Mr. Wilson in 1832, before its completion.

The '' Findlay Caravansary'' was opened on this corner by Maj. Patterson in the spring of 1834, and was the only tavern in the village that sold no intoxicating drink. Whenever a thirsty traveler called in to '' wet his whistle,'' the Major would point to a well just outside the door and politely say: ''There's plenty of pump-water, sir. I do not sell whisky,'' from which quaint expression he became widely known as ''Old Pump-water,'' a name that is an honor to his memory and a monument to his zeal in the cause of temperance. In September, 1840, he traded his tavern to Samuel Leard for a farm in Washington Township, but the latter soon afterward sold it to John Reed, a pioneer of Portage Township, Mr. Reed continued the old name for a short time, and then changed it to ''Reed's Hotel.'? He was succeeded in the business by his brother, Eli S., who ran it until the spring of 1852, when he rented the house to George H. Crook, who remained till January, 1853, and Mr. Reed again took possession. Early in 1854 he began the erection of the front portion of the present three-story brick which he opened for business the following December. In January, 1859, Guntner & Woodworth leased the house, and were succeeded by E. H. Cowles in February, 1862. Mr. Reed died during the three months' service in 1861,while commissary of the Twenty-first Regiment. In March, 1863, Samuel Renninger purchased the property and opened it as the *' American House.'' Mr. Renninger conducted the hotel for several years and then rented it to E. B. Belding, who changed the name to the '' Belding House."' In the fall of 1874 Jasper Constable succeeded Mr. Belding; next came Stewart Sprague, who changed the name to the ''Commercial Hotel.'' In December, 1878, Mr. Renninger sold the property to C. H. Dietsch, who ran the hotel nearly eight years, erecting a large addition thereto during his proprietorship. In March, 1886, J. W. Humphrey, of Jamestown, N. Y., leased and took possession of the hotel. He began at once extensive changes and improvements, and it is now far superior in appearance and convenience to what it has ever been before. He also changed the name to the ''Humphrey House,'' and is fast winning a fair share of the traveling trade. The house contains about fifty rooms completed, and is firstclass in its service and appointments.

The site of the Joy House has been occupied by a hotel during a period of forty-six years. In 1839-40 an Irishman named John McCurdy erected a two-story frame on this ground and soon afterward sold it to Henry Lamb, who in the latter year opened it as the '' White Hall Tavern." Mr. Lamb carried on this tavern until near the close of March, 1849, and the building was burned down on the 31st of that month immediately after the Lambs had moved out. The ground remained unoccupied until the spring of 1854, when the Findlay Joint Stock Hotel Company purchased it, and commenced the erection thereon of the present three-story brick structure known as the Joy House Block. The building was not completed until the fall of 1856, when it was opened by S. T. Heffner as the '' Dixon Hotel,"' in honor of Daniel Dixon, one of the principal stockholders in the company, and a leading citizen of the village. The south part of the present hotel was purchased in June, 1859, by George H. Crook, of the Joint Stock Hotel Company, who changed the name to the ''Crook House,'' and ran it until the spring of 1865. Stewart Sprague then bought the furnishings and leased the building of Mr. Crook, and carried on the hotel business for five years. In the spring of 1870 A. & D. Joy, who had been running a hotel in Carey for many years, purchased the property, and at once changed the name to the '' Joy House.'' Under their management the Joy House soon won the larger share of the hotel trade, and it has retained this up to the present (April, 1886). The Joys lease the two upper stories of the north part of the block, which, together with the old portion, gives their hotel an accommodation of sixty-eight rooms. Most of the interior has been recently refurnished, the dining room remodeled and handsomely furnished in rich harmony of colors, and as a whole, the Joy House will compare favorably with the average hotel of the State outside of the larger towns.

The Sherman House is one of the pioneer hotels of Findlay. In October, 1840, John F. Ritter opened the ''Green Tree Tavern'' on the same site, and in 1844 was succeeded by Abraham W. Schwab, who changed the name to the ''Traveler's Rest." It was then a two-story frame, but seven or eight years afterward Mr. Schwab erected the corner portion of the present structure, and opened the new hotel as the '' Schwab House.'' He subsequently made additions to the building, and carried on the business until his death in 1868. It was next kept by W. W. Siddall as the ''Siddall House,'' and afterward underwent several changes in name and proprietorship, being called in succession the Franklin, Irvin and Marvin House. In 1875 T. J. Stackhouse bought the property, and opened it as the Sherman House, which title it has since retained. This hotel contains twenty rooms, and Mr. Stackhouse is the present proprietor.

The American House was opened in the fall of 1840 by Jacob Rosenberg, who was then sheriff of the county. It stood on the site of the First National Bank, and previous to its purchase by Mr. Rosenberg in June, 1840, had been the court house. He remodeled the interior, and converted the old temple of justice into a place of entertainment. Mr. Rosenberg died in October, 1844, and his widow conducted the business until her marriage to Jacob Carr, about four years afterward. The latter changed the name to "Carr's Hotel,'' which he carried on till the winter of 1862-63, when the site was purchased by William H. Wheeler, who erected thereon the present three-story brick, known as Wheeler's Block. The old frame was moved to its present location, immediately north of the Presbyterian Church, where it has since been occupied by Mr. Carr's family as a private residence.

Among other old-time places of entertainment were the '' Rising Sun Hotel" and the Bigelow House. The former was built by Daniel Erb on East Main Cross Street, and in the spring of 1837 was purchased by Garret D. Teatsorth, who carried it on for quite a long period. The Bigelow House was opened by T. B. Paden in September, 1851, in the old twostory frame yet standing on the southeast corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, and now occupied by L. A. Baldwin as a commission house. It was started to take the place of the *' White Hall Tavern,'' burned down a couple of years previous, and was kept by Nathan Miller and M. Shisler in 1853 and 1854, respectively, who succeeded Mr. Paden, but it was closed about the time the Dixon Hotel (now J oy House) was opened for business.

The Central and Burnet Houses are the latest ventures in the hotel line. The former, located on the west side of the public square, was built by Abraham W. Schwab many years ago for store-rooms, and first opened as a hotel by George Crouse about 1870-71. He was succeeded by James L. Henry, and after a few years the property was sold to the Grange, who opened a store therein. Upon the failure of that movement it was again sold, and finally came into possession of Samuel D. Houpt. He fitted it up asa hotel, and in 1883 leased it to John Ritter, who opened it as the '' Central House.'' C. P. Vail succeeded Mr. Ritter in July, 1884, and has recently fitted up the house in a very enterprising manner. The Burnet, now owned by Samuel Renninger, is located near the depot of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, where a restaurant was started by C. H. Dietsch shortly after the completion of that road to Findlay. The hotel accommodations of Findlay are fully ample for the present wants of the village, while its many elegant restaurants surpass those of any other country town in Ohio.

The old log grist and saw-mill, built under the supervision of Wilson Vance, by Vance & Cory, in 1824, was the first manufacturing establishment erected in the county. These mills stood on the site of the present Carlin flouring-mill north of the river, and were a great blessing to the first settlers. As there has been some difference of opinion as to the year these mills were built, we herewith append the evidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Eberly (daughter of Benjamin J. Cox) and Job Chamberlin, the only pioneers now living who have any personal knowledge of the circumstance. '* We removed,'' says Mrs. Eberly, ''from Fort Findlay to the Maumee in 1823, and the mill had not yet been commenced, but was built the year after we left. The race, however, was dug out while we were there, but that is as far as the work progressed prior to our removal.'' Mr. Chamberlin, who came in February, 1822, agrees with the statement of Mrs. Eberly, and in his '' Personal Reminiscences,'' written in 1874, gives the following account of the building of the mill: ''Father had brought flour and meal enough to supply his family one year. Hon. Joseph Vance had promised to erect a mill the next season, but it was not until about two years and a half afterward that Messrs. Vance & Cory, the original proprietors of Findlay, built a little log mill about the place where Carlin's mill now stands.'' These statements would make the year 1824 as the date the old mills were erected. In 1828 James McKinnis and Reuben Hale rented the mills of Vance & Cory, and ran them about a year. Early in 1834 they were bought by John Campbell, together with fifteen acres of land. In the tax list of that year the mills are valued at $900. Campbell tore down the old log building in the winter of 1834-35 and erected a frame mill, which he ran till the spring of 1837, when the property was purchased by 8. & P. Carlin. Several years afterward the Carlins rebuilt the mills, and they have been rebuilt once more since that time, making the present mill the fourth one on that site. The saw-mill was operated up to within a few years ago.

In 1832 Henry Shaw built a horse-mill on West Front Street, upon the south part of the lot now occupied by the ''Church of God,'' Bethel, to supply the inhabitants with corn meal, when Vance's mill failed on account of low water or some other cause. , It was a two-story building, the grinding being done in the upper story, which was reached by an open stairway, and the horse-power was below. James Teatsorth bought this mill of Mr. Shaw about 1836, and ran it several years.

The first flouring-mill in the village was built by Martin Huber, John S. Julien and John Engelman, the last two mentioned being yet residents of Findlay. They purchased a lot on the south side of Sandusky Street, immediately east of Eagle Creek, in May, 1845, and began the erection of a mill. It was completed and first operated December 25, '1845, and was named the ''Eagle Mills,'' which title it has ever since borne. This mill has always been operated by steam, and was one of the first steam mills built in the county. Soon after the mill began operations Martin Huber died, and in May, 1846, the property was purchased by Benjamin Huber, who owned it nearly twenty years. Inthe fall of 1865 the mill was sold to E. M. Norwood and Milton B. Patterson, who disposed of it in February, 1867, to William W. McConnell. The following November Parish W. Rockwell purchased an interest in the property. McConnell & Rockwell ran the mill until March, 1879, when David Kirk assumed control. In the fall of that year the property was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by the creditors of McConnell & Rockwell, from whom Mr. Kirk and Mrs. William W. McConnell subsequently bought it. The mill was furnished with Ellis rolls in 1883, and on the Ist of January, 1885, Mr. Kirk became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mrs. McConnell's interest. The Eagle Mills are now first-class in their appointments, and are averaging 125 barrels of & superior grade of flour every twenty-four hours, though having a capacity of 150 barrels. Mr. Kirk has his own gas-well, which supplies fuel and light for the mill, and thus a saving of $2,000 per annum is aceomplished.

The Hancock Mills, now owned and operated by John Parker, was built by his father, Jonathan. In the summer of 1857 the latter erected a steam planing-mill on Lincoln Street, in the southwest part of the village, and in the autumn of the same year began an addition for a grist-mill, which commenced operations in the spring of 1858, under the name of the ''Hancock Mills." These mills have ever since been carried on; first by the father, and afterward by the present proprietor, though the planing-mill was abandoned eight or ten years ago. The present capacity is fifty barrels every twenty-four hours.

The pioneer saw-mill of the village was connected with the old log water grist-mill built by Vance & Cory in 1824, and it was continued up to within a few years ago. The next saw-mill was built by the Carlin brothers, on Kast Sandusky Street, on the west bank of Eagle Creek, the power being supplied by that stream. 'This mill was started about 1835, but did not last very long.

In 1846 Jonathan Parker, Abraham Daughenbaugh and William Taylor built quite a large steam saw-mill north of the river and east of Main Street. After some years Mr. Daughenbaugh sold out to his partners, and Albert Parker and Patterson Taylor, sons of the two remaining proprietors, subsequently succeeded to the ownership of the mill, the latter afterward disposing of his interest to Mr. Parker. J. C. Powell finally purchased the property, and continued to run the mill until its destruction by the explosion of the boiler, March 10, 1874, since which event it has not been rebuilt.

In 1880 8. C. Moore erected a saw-mill on Main Cross' Street, in East Findlay, which he sold in J anuary, 18838, to S.& I. S. Moore. This mill was burned down in April, 1886, but immediately rebuilt by the Messrs. Moore. Six men find steady employment here most of the time, the product averaging about 4,000 feet of hardwood lumber per day during nine months of the year. In June, 1884, S. C. Moore established his present hardwood lumber mill near the track of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, in North Findlay. George D. Plotner obtained an interest in the mill in December, 1885. They employ six hands and average 4,000 feet of lumber per day.

The fanning-mill factory established by Hiram Smith in 1835, on East Main Cross Street, was one of the earliest and most important industries of Findlay. Capt. Smith had previously carried on the same business 'at Waterville, on the Maumee River, whence, in 1835, he removed to Findlay. He manufactured mills hefe for several years, employing a number of hands in his factory, but finally engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1851 removed to Oregon.

Small wagon and carriage factories began to be established at quite an early day, though very little new work was turned out during the earlier years of. settlement. Philip Shockey opened a wagon shop on Hast Main Cross Street in 1834 or 1835. He also manufactured plows, but his principal work was repairing during his residence here. In 1839 John Schneyer started a wagon shop on West Main Cross Street, on the site of Mrs. Sarah Carlin's residence, where he carried on business about nine years and then removed to the south bank of the river, where the old brewery now stands. In the winter of 1848-49 he gave up the manufacture of wagons and started a brewery, which will be found mentioned further on in this article. Jesse George, Simon Wilhelm and William Kirtland manufactured wagons and plows, and also did some foundry work, on South Main Street, as early as 1844-45. Koons & Snyder opened a wagon and carriage factory on West Crawford Street in 1848-49. Snyder soon retired and the firm became H. P. Koons & Co. The Koons family continued to run carriage shops in Findlay up to within fifteen years past. Eli Beach conducted the same class of business, first on Main Street and subsequently on West Crawford, from 1855 until about ten years ago.

Daniel Buck erected a small frame wagon shop on the north side of West Main Cross Street in 1859, and in 1861 took into partnership Stephen Seyfang, and in 1866 Adam Reimund joined the firm. The shops were enlarged in 1868, and in 1875 they were moved to the south side of the street, where the present two-story brick was afterward erected. In September, 1884, Mr. Seyfang died, and Buck & Reimund have since continued the business, which has grown from very small beginnings to its present respectable proportions. It is the leading carriage shop of Findlay, and gives steady employment to fifteen hands. All classes of wagons, buggies and carriages are turned out by this firm, their annual sales of new work aggregating from $15,000 to $20,000. :

The carriage factory now operated by A. W. Ray, on West Main Cross Street, was established some twenty-six years ago by Karr & Sprau. _Many changes have since occurred in its ownership, John M. Ferguson, Philip B. Morrison, 8. C. Moore, George Heck, J. L. Linnville, William Biggs, Charles Fritcher, A. W. and J. K. Ray and L. Fitzpatrick having all been connected with the proprietorship of this factory up to 1877, when A. W. Ray became sole owner. Eight hands are employed in this shop and a good class of wagons, carriages, etc., is manufactured. :

In September, 1879, E. L. Kridler opened a wagon and carriage factory on East Crawford Street. William Ramey obtained an interest in the business, in 1881, but sold out to his partner after about eight months, and the latter continued alone until the spring of 1886, when Charles Radebaugh purchased an interest. The firm of Kridler & Radebaugh employ eight hands and do a business of about $8,000 per annum.

Several years ago James P. Kerr started a carriage shop on West Crawford Street, which finally went down. In February, 1885, Markle, Mullholand & Co. opened a carriage factory in the same place, and have since been doing a successful business. Seven hands are working in this shop, and a good grade of work is turned out.

The old Jackson foundry was established abott 1848, by Smith, Vandenburg & Nye, on East Crawford Street. Jesse Wolf succeeded them in 1849, and was soon afterward joined by Simon Wilhelm, who, in April, 1851, purchased more ground and enlarged the business. In July, 1855, Augustus Sheffield bought the foundry, and inthe fall of 1857, sold itto Jesse George. In March, 1858, the latter formed a partnership with Simon Wilhelm and Jesse Wolf, under the firm name of J. George & Co., who named their foundry the '' Findlay Foundry and Machine Shop.'' We find their first advertisement in the Jeffersonian of March, 1858, in which they say they have established said business ''at the old foundry on Railroad (Crawford) Street, lately occupied by A. Sheffield. They advertise to manufacture steam-engines, plows, cultivators, grain-drills and several other kinds of foundry and machine work. In November, 1859, Wolf & Wilhelm purchased, for $8,000, the foundry established and then operated by Augustus Sheffield, on West Main Cross Street. The shops on Crawford Street were abandoned and the name transferred to the Main Cross Street foundry, which is thus its lineal successor.

In September, 1857, Augustus Sheffield purchased ground on the south side of West Main Cross Street, and built a brick foundry and machine shop thereon. He sold out to Jesse Wolf and Simon Wilhelm in the fall of 1859, who removed from their old location on East Crawford Street to the new shops. Wolf & Wilhelm ran the foundry until 1863, when William France obtained an interest (the firm name remaining as before), which he held about a year. In 1864 Robert 8S. Mungen purchased Mr. Wilhelm's interest, and the firm then became R. 8S. Mungen & Co. Louis Adams entered the firm in 1865, and Adams, Mungen & Wolf continued about one year when Mr. Wolf retired. Adams & Mungen carried on the business until 1867, when Mr. Wolf again became a partner, but the following year sold out his interest to Vincent H. Coons, while Cyrus Vail bought that of Mr. Adams. The interests of Messrs. Vail and Mungen were soon afterward purchased by Mr. Adams, and the firm of Adams & Coons ran the business until 1872, when the former retired. James T. Adams, Newton M. Adams, John W. Davis and William L. Davis, now entered the business, and the firm of Coons, Adams & Co. was organized. A large brick addition was made to the shop in 1873, and a fresh impetus was given to the business. Upon the death of William L. Davis in 1880, his interest was purchased by the remaining partners. In January, 1883, the Adams brothers and Joseph

Kevis bought out Vincent H. Coons and John W. Davis, and the firm then became Adams Bros. & Co. Tha Findlay Machine Works manufacture portable and stationary engines, circular saw-mills, etc., and give steady employment to twenty-two hands. In the spring of 1886 they erected a two-story brick addition, in the rear of the old shops, to meet the growing demands of their business.

The Eagle Foundry and Machine Shop was established in 1871 by W. K. Marvin on East Front Street, in a two-story frame building which he had fitted up for the purpose. In 1882 the present two-story brick was erected and the firm of W. K. Marvin & Sons formed, Russell and Demy Marvin being the junior members of the establishment. Portable and stationary engines, saw-mills and all kinds of mill gearing and castings are turned at this foundry.

Yocum & Hollowell started a small foundry about eight years ago in East Findlay, in the building now occupied by the hoop factory. It, howa lasted only a short period and made no mark in the manufacturing ine.

The manufacture of furniture was one of the earliest industries of the village, some of the very first settlers carrying on that business. Frederick Henderson, Paul Sours, John Adams, Hugh Newell and Jesse Wheeler were all engaged in the manufacture of furniture during the earlier years of Findlay's history. Later furniture-makers were Campbell & Hefilick, Jacob Lohr, Henry Porch, David Rummell, Amos Nye, Moses Bullock and Isaac Baker. Mr. Rummel! is the only one of the number now in the business, though he has not manufactured much furniture for many years past.

Charles Dietsch & Son began the manufacture of furniture in 1860 on West Main Cross Street. In 1870 the firm became A. Dietsch & Co., and so remained until 1883, when it was changed to the Dietsch Bros. A frame building was first occupied, and this was used until 1876, when a substantial brick factory was erected on the old site. The Dietsch Bros. employ ten hands, and their business averages about $10,000 per year. This is now the only furniture manufactory in Findlay, and the work turned out is firstclass in every way.

Edwin S. Jones opened a tan-yard on East Front Street in 1828. In 1831 he sold out to Edward Bright, who was joined by Allen Wiseley in the business. This tannery passed through several ownerships, and was finally purchased by G. C. Barnd, who ran it some years ere abandoning the business. Another tannery was opened by Christian Barnd about 1832, west of the park, which was carried on by him and afterward by his son G. C. for a considerable period.

A log distillery was built in 184248, on the site of the East Findlay engine house, by John and Benjamin Hershy, of Wayne County, Ohio. They ran the business about four years and then gave it up as non-paying. The only other distillery that has ever been built in this locality was by McConnell, Lewis & Stillings, in the spring and summer of 1857. It was a three-story frame and stood on the north side of the river west of the village. After about one year's operation the distillery was purchased by E. P. Jones, of Findlay, and H. F. Merry, of Sandusky City, who manufactured whisky for some time and then sold out to Louis'Adams. The latter took in W. W. McConnell, and the business was carried on by them

In the winter of 1848-49 John Schneyer established a brewery on the south bank of the river adjoining Judge, Cory's residence on the north. He manufactured lager beer at this point until the spring of 1857, when he sold out to Joseph and Frank Kevis. In 1861 a branch brewery was built on Chamberlin's Hill, where good vaults could be constructed, and it was run in connection with the main establishment until burned down in 1875. In the fall of that year Frank Zellers purchased the brewery and afterward erected the large brick yet standing, but in a few years he failed, and the business has not since been revived.

The Hancock Mills, erected on West Lincoln Street by Jonathan Parker, in 1857-58, had in operation the first planing-mill in the village. A planer was run here until eight or ten years ago.

In 1859 Benjamin Huber and M. D. Miller put into the Eagle Mills planing machinery and also machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. This portion of the mills was run in connection with the flouring department, first by Mr. Miller and afterward by D. C. Fisher until 1864, when the latter removed the machinery to a new building on West Crawford Street.

The extensive planing-mills of Shull & Parker, on West Crawford Street, were established, in 1864, by D. C. Fisher and William H. Wheeler, who purchased ground and erected a two-story frame and equipped it with the necessary machinery to manufacture sash, doors and blinds. The firm of Fisher & Wheeler ran the business until 1868, when C. E. Seymour bought an interest, and the firm name was changed to D. C. Fisher & Co. In 1869 John Shull bought out Mr. Wheeler, and in January, 1872, Mr. Fisher disposed of his interest to William Anderson. The firm then became John Shull & Co. In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Anderson and Seymour sold out to George W. Myers and Samuel D. Frey, and on the 4th of September of that year the "John Shull Lumber Manufacturing Company" was organized by John Shull, Samuel D. Frey, Henry Schwartz, Squire Carlin and George W. Myers, with a capital stock of $50,000. This company conducted the business until 1877, and were then bought out by John Shull and D. C. Fisher, who, under the firm name of Shull & Fisher, carried on until January, 1883. W. F. Parker then came into the business, and the firm of ShulJ, Fisher & Parker was established. Mr. Fisher died in October, 1885, and Shull & Parker purchased his interest. Sixteen hands are employed in these mills, and the combined product, including the business of the lumber yard, will annually exceed $60,000. All classes of sash, doors and blinds are turned out, and, in fact, everything in the building line usually manufactured in such an establishment.

Heck Bros. & Bushon operate the only other sash, door and blind factory in the village. The mill was built in the summer of 1885, on East Front Street, close to the Hagle Foundry, and turns out all classes of such building material as come in their line. 'They are making a specialty of " Shellebarger's Combination Fence," and give employment to nine hands.

The Findlay Stave and Handle Factory is one of the leading manufacturing institutions of Findlay. The business was established on West Sandusky Street, in the spring of 1872, by D. C. Fisher, John K. Wise, Andrew Bushon, Henry F. Winders, John M. Hamlin and Samuel C. Moore, under the firm name of Moore, Wise & Co. Mr. Fisher sold out in December, 1872, and Mr. Wise died in 1873, both interests being purchased by the other members of the firm. Early in 1873 Mr. Bushon sold to Messrs. Hamlin and Winders, and the establishment was soon afterward burned to the ground. The factory was at once rebuilt on a larger scale, and the business prosecuted with renewed vigor. Henry Hellenkamp bought Mr. Moore's interest in 1875, and in 1878 sold to Messrs. Hamlin & Winders. In April, 1884, Mr. Hamlin became sole proprietor through the purchase of Mr. Winders' interest. Staves and all kinds of farm-tool handles are the product of this factory, whose markets extend to nearly every part of the globe. Twenty-five hands are usually employed throughout the year, and the sales amount to $30,000 per annum.

The Findlay Rake Factory was started by C. E. Seymour, Andrew Bushon and H. M. Vance, in North Findlay, in the spring of 1873. Vance & Seymour purchased Mr. Bushon's interest in 1874, and the following year Mr. Vance sold out to P. J. Sours. The firm of Sours & Seymour continued until January, 1878, when Ms. Seymour bought out his partner, and thus became sole owner. In May, 1880, the factory was burned down, and the next month he began the erection of a two-story brick building on. East Crawford Street, which was occupied the following autumn. In June, 1882, Lemuel McManness obtained a partnership in the business, and the firm has since been McManness & Seymour. From 12,000 to 15,000 hand-rakes are annually manufactured, and twenty-five hands find steady employment.

The Findlay Manufacturing Company was organized November 14, 1873, with a capital stock of $30,000, by E. P. Jones, J. S. Patterson, James H. Wilson, W. H. Haven, Charles K. Niles and D. C. Fisher. A two-story brick building was erected on West Crawford Street, and began the manufacture of planed lumber, fanning-mills and washing-machines. It ran only a few years, and was succeeded by a window-shade factory, and known as the '' Novelty Works;" but this was of very short duration. In the fall of 1879 the building was leased by Y. Bickham and Charles Wright, who commenced the manufacture of carriage bent-work. In January, 1881, Mr. Wright bought out his partner, and ran the business until the spring of 1882, when it ceased further operations. Mr. Jones, who owns the building, has recently sunk a gas-well in the yard, and rented both to J. W. Smith, for the manufacture and working of a metal said to be aluminum.

J. J. Bradner's fanning-mill and handle factory on the Lima road, was started in 1881, and is still in successful operation. Bee-hives and honeysections are also manufactured at this shop, where five hands find steady employment. ' , :

The Findlay Hoop Works commenced business in the spring of 1882, on East Sandusky Street in East Findlay. This factory was established by James P. Kerr, in the building formerly occupied by Yocum & Hollowell's foundry, which had been in operation only a brief time. Mr. Kerr purchased a portion of the machinery and the stock of the Findlay Carriage Bent Works, and removed them to East Findlay, where he began the manufacture of hoops and hardwood lumber. A saw and planing-mill is also operated in this factory, and eight hands are employed in the several branches of the work. ibe

The Findlay Woolen Mill was established by William Anderson and John D. McKibben in the old Presbyterian Church on East Crawford Street. They purchased this building in May, 1858, and fitted it for the manufacture of woolen goods. Mr. Anderson bought out his partner four years afterward, and continued alone. ,.On the 14th of April, 1865, the cornerstone of the large three-story brick building in East Findlay was laid with imposing ceremonies, as there were thousands of people in town that day celebrating over the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee's army. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Anderson sold the old property on Crawford Street, and the same year the new mill began operations. Mr. Anderson carried on the business with varying success until the spring of 1884, and was then succeeded by L. Rambo & Son, the present proprietors, who opened the mill for business in June, 1885. The mill is only run a portion of the year, and when in operation furnishes employment to about eighteen hands. Cassimeres, satinets, blankets, flannels and yarns are manufactured in this establishment, the capacity of the mill being about 50,000 pounds of wool annually.

The Linseed Oil Mill of MeManness & Seymour had its inception in the summer of 1865, when James T. Adams, C. A. Croninger and William Anderson purchased the old frame woolen-mill on East Crawford Street and began to manufacture linseed oil. Mr. Croninger sold out to his partners in February, 1868. In 1873 Adams & Anderson erected the front portion of the present two-story brick. Mr. Anderson sold his interest in 1877 to Mr. Adams and Milton Taylor, who in 1880 tore down the old frame church portion and replaced it with a brick structure. In June, 1882, Adams & Taylor sold the property to McManness & Seymour, who have since carried on the business. Six hands are employed in the mill, which has a capacity of 45,000 bushels of seed per annum.

Early in 1865 8. F. Gray, J. S. Patterson and Milton Taylor leased the old foundry on Kast Crawford Street, and fitted it up for a flax-mill. They, however, could not find a paying market for the product, and after a few months' trial the enterprise was abandoned. In 1870 the Delaware Bagging Company started a similar establishment in East Findlay, which was purchased in 1872 by James T. Adams and William Anderson. In 1877 the former sold out to his partner, who several years afterward gave up the business as unprofitable. The building is now occupied by some parties engaged in baling hay.

The harness and saddlery establishment of the Ruhl Bros., on Main Street, gives employment to a greater number of hands than any other factory now (April, 1886,) in operation in Findlay. The present business was started in the spring of 1876, by John S. and George W. Ruhl, and they have since grown into an extensive wholesale trade, one of the firm traveling ''on the road'' the greater part of his time. Thirty-nine workmen find steady work in the establishment, and their sales reach an aggregate of $60,000 a year.

The Barnd Limekilns south of the village were established by Elijah Barnd in 1871, and over 20,000 bushels of first-class lime are annually burned in these kilns. From five to seven men are employed, and the business ranks among the leading manufacturing interests of the town.

In 1860 Martin Hirsher established a stoneware pottery in East Findlay on the Mt. Blanchard road. He gets his clay from Akron, Ohio, and the Hocking Valley, and annually turns out about 30,000 gallons of stoneware. His ware has a good reputation, and his sales are principally confined to Hancock County.

1884, and began the manufacture of masks in a small way in a room in the headquarters building on Main Street. By 1885 the business had so grown that the firm purchased a two-story brick building on the south side of Main Cross Street, immediately west of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. The business is owned and operated by Oscar Kirsten and Christian Heyn, and fifteen hands are employed in the factory, which is the only one of the kind in the United States.

The John Shull Novelty Works is one of the recent additions to the business interests of the village. It had its inception in the spring of 1885, in its present quarters in the dld Ijutheran Church on West Crawford Street, where Mr. Shull began the manufacture, by hand, of ironing tables, etc. But the present works were equipped and started in January, 1886, and have since been doing a prosperous trade. Ironing tables, step and extension ladders, clothes racks, etc., are turned out on a large scale, fourteen hands being now employed in the factory.

The works of the Brigg's Edge Tool Company is the latest and most prominent manufacturing institution of Findlay. To encourage the location of this factory in the village the citizens donated to the company four acres of land and a gas-well, north of the river and east of the Toledo, Columbus & Southern Railroad, also $1,500 in money. The factory was completed and opened in the spring of 1886. The company say they will now employ fifty hands, and expect to finally increase the number to 100. 'The present buildings are good sized brick and frame structures, and if the promises of the company are realized these works will prove a wonderful advantage to the material interests of Findlay.

The great development of natural gas is bringing a few more factories to the village. ''The Findlay Window Glass Company, of Bellaire, Ohio,'' was incorporated April 21, and has commenced the erection of buildings for the manufacture of glass in North Findlay, at the junction of the Toledo, Columbus & Southern, and Lake Erie & Western Railroads. Palmer & Arnold are erecting a large brick flouring-mill near the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad depot. Including the basement it will be four stories high, will be furnished with the roller process and have a capacity of 125 barrels of first-class flour every twenty-four hours. Several other manufacturing institutions are investigating the advantages which natural gas bas conferred upon Findlay as a future field of operations, and some of them will probably locate here.

The Hancock County Bank was organized June 22, 1847, under the act of February 24, 1845, as a branch of the State Bank. A banker named A. ©. Stone came here from the East to establish the enterprise, and enlisted the following stockholders in the project: D. J. Cory, John Dukes, Dr. William H. Baldwin, W. J. Wells, S..N. Beach, H. L. Wood, Edson Goit, Dr. David Patton, Eli S. Reed, A. H. Hyatt, James Robinson, U. A. Ogden, James H. Wilson, Charles W. O'Neal, P. D. Bigelow, Frederick Henderson, William Porterfield, Calvin W. Seaver, Hugh Newell, W. M. Patterson, William E. Chittenden, Wilson Vance, Benjamin Huber, Squire and Parlee Carlin, Robert L. Strother, William Taylor and Dr. Bass Rawson, the capital stock being established at $100,000. Stone returned to the East to settle up his affairs ere opening the bank; there got into financial trouble and never came back. Thus ended the first banking enterprise of the village.

James Weldon, Charles Hedges, William S. Granger, David J. Cory, William Taylor and James M. Coffinberry, directors, and Cunningham Hazlett, cashier. This bank lasted until the spring of 1857, and was succeeded by the 'Exchange Bank,'' C. Hazlett & Co., proprietors, which, however, did not carry on business very long.

The Citizens' Bank, under the firm name of Ewing, Carlins & Co., was established in the spring of 1854, and commenced business on the 3d of April. _ John Ewing, Squire and Parlee Carlin, Charles W. O'Neal, Louis Adams and Samuel Howard composed the firm. In April, 1855, Mr. Howard retired from the firm, the following November Mr. O' Neal dropped out, and Mr. Ewing in April, 1856. Adams, Carlins & Co. continued to run the bank until December, 1863, when Paul Sours took the place of Mr. Adams, and the firm became Carlins & Co. This bank was at that time the leading banking house of the county, and did a very large business. On the 17th of January, 1876, it was reorganized as the ''Citizens' Savings Bank,"' with the following stockholders: Parlee Carlin, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, M. D. Sours, Lewis C. Carlin, James A. Bope, Squire Carlin, Dr. Bass Rawson, George W. Myers, Samuel D. Frey, D. J. Cory, William L. Davis, John W. Davis, Isaac Davis and Mrs. D. B. G. Carlin. Soon afterward Peter Hosler, Isaac Blaksley and Jacob Wagner were added to the list, while Squire Carlin dropped out. The advertised capital was $50,000, and a guaranteed security of $100,000. It was regarded as a sound financial institution, as its stockholders embraced several of the wealthiest men of the county; but on the 25th of March, 1878, it went down in financial ruin. The board of directors at the time of the failure were Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, president; D. J. Cory, vice-president; James A. Bope, secretary; Parlee Carlin, John W. Adams, Isaac Blaksley, Lewis C. Carlin and Jacob Wagner, with M. D. Sours, cashier. The cause of the failure was claimed by the officials to be the '"'heavy liabilities' and ''scaly assets'' of the old bank, which were unknowingly assumed by the reorganized institution. It was thought by many that the bank would resume business in a short time, but it never again opened its doors.

The First National Bank was organized in the spring of 1863, the original stockholders being E. P. Jones, Mrs. Frances Brainard, Charles E. Niles, Dr. Anson Hurd, Robert B. Hurd, William H. Wheeler, H. P. Gage, Henry Brown, Henry Byal and Miss Lucinda Suber. The following officers were elected at the time of organization: E. P. Jones, president; Charles E. Niles, cashier; Henry Brown, William H. Wheeler, H. P. Gage, Robert B. Hurd and E. P. Jones, directors. The capital stock was $50,000, and authorized capital, $100,000. It began business in the summer of 1863, and has ever since been one of the safest and soundest financial institutions in northwestern Ohio. Messrs. Jones and Niles have been its president and cashier, respectively, since the bank was organized, and under their careful administration it has gone forward on a prosperous career, disbursing millions of dollars without any,comparative loss during the twenty-three years of its existence. It now enjoys a reputation for strength and solidity unexcelled in this portion of the State.

The Hancock Bank was organized in May, 1867, by Croninger, Gage & Co. In November, 1868, the firm became H. P. Gage & Co., H. P. Gage, Parlee Carlin and A. S. Julien composing the firm. In June, 1878, this bank was reorganized and incorporated as '''The Hancock Savings and Loan