Palladium-Item from Richmond, Indiana • 17

PAGE SEVENTEEN FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1929 THE KiuHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, RICHMOND, INDIANA Farm Gaar Family to Hold First Reunion in 40 Years at Uncle Abe Gaar's would be of Interest, but" space will permit of but two of these. Many of the workmen at the factory were Germans who came here between 1849 and 1860. They came to escape forced military service in Germany. Every new arrival was taken to Gaar's for employment. They were a sturdy, reliable class of workmen.

It was these men. that originated the phrase "Down by Gaar's." They all said they worked "down by Gaar's." This came into common usage by all classes, but lost its use after the factory closed, and we hear it no longer. Once they received a communication from a Texas prospect for a saw mill. They sent him a catalogue and gave him the price of $2,500. His reply came back saying.

"If I had $2,500 what in the thunder would I want with saw mill RICHMOND INDIANA 18 SO Pl'flMinallw vnld nasi, farwllv i a 55-- i descendants of Jonas, were stockholders and prospered for many years, so that manv of them became the financiers and capitalists of the community. For many years the four brothers in the picture, and four brothers-in-law were the operators and managers, but when the plant was sold, it had passed largely into the hands of the next generation. Howard Campbell was president, with the following associates, all I members of the family: J. B. Craig- head, W.

H. Campbell, S. S. Stratton, Frank and Charles Land, Evert Jones and Charles Holton. I Of the four brothers Abram was I the oldest and was president of the company for many years.

He was a cabinet maker by trade and brought into being some of the important improvements in engines and sepa 2ry 1 rators. We call your attention to i picture. His residence was on North street, back of the Richmond Malleable Castings company. This street Is now closed. Here the three sons were born Ol.

Clem and Sam. His, father, Jonas, bought the Elihu Morrow farm, north of the city, early In the 60's, and Abram acquired this from his father and moved to it. It has since been known as the Gaar farm, but is now owned by Joe Hill. Abram built the present big house in 1876. He lived there until his death in 1894.

He was a large man, and very quiet in his manner. He served as county commissioner from and It will include music, speaking, and various amusements. There will be plenty of fun for all. The Gaars are of German stock. They came to this country about two centuries ago and settled in Lancaster county, Pennslyvaniaj then in Virginia and in 1807 in Wayne county, Indiana.

Abraham was the first to come to Wayne county. He was born in 1769 and died here in 1S61 and is buried in Elkhorn cemetery. This family made its advent into Wayne county about the same time that Richmond was founded, in 1S07 and the family has multiplied in numbers and influence, industrially and commercially that the county's history cannot be written without giving them a large place in it. The pioneers, Abraham Gaar, and his wife, left Virginia and settled in Kentucky, but remained there only two years when they came to Indiana. They located in Boston township on the Elkhorn creek near the Beeler farm.

If you go south on the Liberty pike, and turn west, just south of the first school house, you will find far from the main road a bricK house situated on high ground, not far from the Whitewater river. This is the old homestead. There were eight children in this family, four sons and four daughters, and their blood has been disseminated among hoto Reproduction by By E. M. HAAS The Gaar family will hold a reunion on July Fourth, the first one In 40 years.

Many have died ana many new faces have been added In that time. It will be held at the old Abram Gaai homestead, now the J. H. Hill farm. Committees have been appointed as follows: Executive J.

H. Hill, It. G. Leeds, Caar Williams and D. N.

Elmer. Invitation Harry Land, S. W. Gaar. Alma Holton, Clem Gaar, Alice Gaar, Sarah E.

Williams. Dinner Mrs. Harry Land, Mrs. Toe Hill. Mrs.

Harry Gilbert, Mrs. ft. E. Ileum. Reception Walker Land, Kussel Gaar, Horatio Land.

Finance It. G. Leeds, Robert Lr.nd, M. B. Craighead.

Family relics Mrs. Julia Gaar, Mrs. J. G. Leeds, Mrs.

M. B. Craighead. Entertainment Elmer Eggemeyer, Harry Gilbert and R. E.

Heun. These committees are now at work and invitations will be ready to so out in a few days. They will go all known members of the Abra-lam Gaar family. This was the 'ounder of the family In Wayne in 1S07. There will be an all day The Big Four, Left to Right: Abram, J.

Fielding and Samuel Gaar. the families of Wayne county for six generations during the last 125 years. As families were usually large, offspring from this one stem should number thousands living and dead. The oldest one of Abrahams children was Jonas, and this one is the father of the family of whom we are writing, and whose children have been vitally connected with Richmond throughout its history. Jonas was born in 1792 and died in 1875.

He was 83 years old when he died, and is well remembered by many Richmond citizens. He had his home near the Gaar Scott plant, just about where the office was located, now occupied by the Richmond Baking company offices. He died in this house and his daughter, Sirs. Land, took care of the house. He and his younger brother, Fielding, were soldiers in the war of 1812, doing frontier duties.

After the war he decided to learn the trade of cabinet making. He came to Richmond in 1820 and established a business of his own. He was married to Sarah Watson and established his home on South Fourth street, then called Front street. The picture of this home is published, with this rticle. This was the home of father, mothes, and four sons and four daughters, all of whom are shown in the large picture, except the mother, who died in 1863, and one daughter, Mrs.

W. G. Scott, who died in 1S4S. All of these children always made Richmond their home. 1 1885 to 1888.

He was married to Ag nes Adams, and had four children Oliver Clem Samuel and Nettie wife of S. S. Stratton of Chicago. The writer best remembers him as a daily visitor to the Palladium office, where we were then employed as advertising manager. There was 1 then no rural delivery, and every company, until the firm pf Gaar, Scott was organized when he took employment with them.

He was frugal and soon became a heavy stockholder in the firm. was a pattern maker by trade and was in the woodworking department of the plant. There we three children Howard, who had become a director-treasurer, general manager and finally president of the company: Elizabeth became the wife of George R. Williams, who preceded the writer as clerk of the circuit court, and ok charge of the bookkeeping in the Gaar plant. His son is Gaar Williams, cartoonist on the Chicago Tribune.

William, the youngest b-rame the assistant to his brother Howard, and is now at Webster City, Iowa, in he manufacturing business. Mr. Campbell's home remained at the old homsead on Washingtoa avenue until his death In 1303. It Is Interesting to note how posterity runs. Beginning with Abraham, the pioneer.

bad eizht children: his son. Jonas had eight; the next generation averaged four, the next less than two and the next, one. As to the nam Gaar, thr remains but one in Richmond, Kussel, of the fourth generation, by the name of Gaar, and his two children are eirls. There are four other boys cf this fourth generation; three in the far wst; two sons cf Charles and and Americus, in ond His first wife. Ma-linda Gaar.

died in 1863. Mr. Scott died in 1897. The second was Emiline. who married Horatio N.

Land, who came from New York to Richmond In 1852. He found employment with the Gaar company and remained with them until his death in 1S93. He was a splendid mechanic and a good businessman. He became the general superintendent of the plant, which position he occupied until his death. His sons.

Frank and Charles, and son-in-law Charles Holton, became officers in the company and large factors in its operation at the time of the sale. One son Harry became superindendent of the Wayne works and later has been associated with his son in the foundry business. The third daughter of Jonas was Fannie A. who became Mrs. Oliver Jones.

Mr. Jones also was associated with the Gaar company and was a stockholder. They had six children. J. Evert.

Walter E. Rose, Robert, Sarah and Howard. All the sons became associated with the Gaar firm. Mrs. Jones has been dead for many years and Oliver died in 1922.

He lived a retired life at his home on North Eleventh street for many years. The fourth daughter of Jonas was Elizabeth, the youngest of the family. She was born In 1853 and married Thomas Campbell. was employed with J. M.

Hutton and old house on South Fourth street. In 1827. He early became connected with the firm of Gaar, Scott and company. He was marrried to Mary J. Gallagher and had three sons and one daughter, all of whom are living Jonas.

Charles and Earl, and Indiana, who married Harry W. Gil- bert. He lived in Washington avenue about where the lawnmower plant is located and here, his children were born. He later built a house on North Fifteenth street which was sold to S. W.

Hayes after his death. Here is where he died." He worked all his life until retired in the woodworking department of the Gaar plant. One story survives him and is still told by old acquaintances. He was commenting on churches, and told one of his relatives that he had made up his mind to join his church as they paid attention neither to politics nor religion. He died at his home on North Fifteenth street in 1909.

The four daughters of Jonas Gaar were Mrs. William G. Scott, whose husband was one of the founders of the firm of Gaar, Scott and company. He was a good business man and soon" became associated with other concerns. He was president of the Second National bank for many years.

He was very active in civic and religious affairs. John B. Dou-gan was his son-in-law and W. J. Robie his brother-in-law, by his sec This house stood at Number 41S South Fourth street, and was bought by Henry Eggemeyer, who tore it down and erected the present brick house in 1872.

The old house was the mecca for annual pilgrimages week day evening Mr. Gaar came to the office about press time, which then was somewhat irregular, took a seat in the-back part of the office on Main street, where the Duning store Is now located. There was no light in the back rart and he could sit there in the shadow without being observed by those in the front part, and wait for the evening paper, which was often more than an hour late. He never left his chair until the paper came down from the pressroom. Mrs.

Jenkinson was then keeping office in front, and as she had a very nervous temperament, Mr. Gaar would find entertainment in observing her, "and when she "would discover him with his broad grin, she became more excited and the office boy immediately got very busy, so did the business manager. John Milton Gaar was born in 1823 and was perhaps the best known of all the Gaar family, be This Is the only Gaar who boasts that he never worked in the factory. Who is he? pany," and remained so until its sale to the M. Rumely in 1912.

for more than 13,000,000. The new company operated it for less than two years when it was dismantled, and the Richmond Commercial club bought the property for $100,000 to be used for the establishment of new industries to take the place of the old one. The loss of this plant was the greatest blow to industry which Richmond has ever received before or since. Here was an institution that employed about 800 men and Jiad existed for 65 years. It was the source of livelihood for hundreds of families, and when it closed, there were many old employees who were incapable of finding new employment, and hardship followed.

The plant had become inefficient because of location, equipment and construction of buildings, making economic manufacturing impossible. The company had 25 branch house in the United States, Canada, South America and Russia, and had business connections with a great many jobbing houses, and carried notes receivable up to $2,250,000 on their books, besides- open accounts and value of real estate, bringing assets up to more than $3,000,000. The stock when sold brought about 10 for one, and was regarded gilt edged, but manipulation by the new company soon brought panic to the stockholders. There are many traditions of the old plant that could be related that for many years by members of the Gaar family. The picture published in this article was copied from a large framed one.

a copy of which hangs in almost all the Gaar homes. After a number of years in the cabinet making business Jonas went in partnership with Job Swain and Abel Thornbury and added a foundry and machine shop to his business. The shop was located on the south side of Main street, opposite Robinson and company. This firm operated the first rotary steam engine in the -county. This venture proved disastrous and failed.

After several years of other business, he again was ready to engage in a new enterprise. It was in 1849 that Jonas and his two sons, J. M. and Abram, and his son-in-law, William G. Scott, purchased the Spring foundry from Jesse M.

and John M. Hutton, on the site where they were to develop the great Gaar, Scott plant. The business was named, at first, Gaar Company," as shown on the picture of the first shop. The business was incorporated in 1870 under the name of "Gaar Scott Com- cause of his many business connections. Being one of the originators of the firm, he was also one of its chief counsellors, and on the death of his brother.

Abram, became president and remained so until his death. As the writer remembers him, be was the builder of the firm, and was never happier then when he haJ some large task of this kind on his hands. 3 S3 Almost all the buildings of the huge plant were planned and erected by him. He was also tied up with other business enterprises. He was president of the Second National bank, and for a time president of the F.

and N. Lawn Mower company and the Richmond Natural Gas company. As recreation and genuine pleasure, he engaged In farming and stock raising on a large scale. He owned a large farm of 800 acres near Lew-isville. and went there reeularlv This was one of the very early Gaar, Scott and engines.

twice a week for years. Many are y.y.- J-, M4 A 11 iff sg" mrmom'im This was the home of Jtnas Gaar on South Fourth street, and is the birthplace cf all his children, "except Abram, who was born in the country. the amusing incidents told about his farming experiences. He was a social man. His particular loafing place was at the tailor shop of Simon Fox on Main street, and there with many others the writer had grown fond of his company.

We remember a story told by him that he, as a boy, rode a horse to guide him in dragging large stones at the construction of the foundation for the covered bridge that stood at the foot of Main street, which was one of the wonders of that time. People drove here for many miles to see it when completed. He had two daughters and two Hannah, wife of J. B. Craighead, and Jeanette, wife of W.

B. Leeds, and William and John Jr both deceased. Mr. Gaar lived in Richmond all his life. He was born in the old home on South Fourth street.

The last 45 years were in his palatial, home on North Eighth street, which was sold to the Elks lodge after his deathz and still remains their clubhouse. He died in 1900. Surviving him are two daughters, and three grandsons, Milton Craighead, James Gaar and Rudolph G. Leeds. The third son, Samuel also was born in the old house on Fourth street, in 1824.

He also joined the Gaar firm and became a stockholder, and labored at the blacksmith trade. He was a bachelor for .41 years, when he married Mrs. Elizabeth Townsend, and lived on North Seventh street. He later owned the bouse known as the borne of Ed H. Swayne on North Eleventh street, and there he died In 1893.

He bad no children. Fielding Gaar also was born in the 1 I iJg I is- ti I ii mMr I if 1 1 sr Pboto Reproduction by Kofslcl This picture of the Gaar plant was first published 75 years ago. Jonas Gaar and his sons and daughters. This picture is about 60 years old. Left right, front row: Mrs.

Land, Mrs. Jonas the father, Abram, and Mra. Campbell. Back row: Fielding, Samuel and J. Milton.

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