The Journal News from Hamilton, Ohio • Page 9

HAMILTON DAILY SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 1932. NINE EARLY HISTORY OF HAMILTON acre of was closely packed with' people, who were eager to see the famed General. When General Scott stepped upon the platform he was greeted with a rousing cheer the crowd. Major John M.

MUli- kin welcomed General, Scott in behalf of Hamilton. Notwithstanding the har dtimes in 1858 and the stagnation of business elsewhere, there were a good number of buildings erected in the summer of 1859. John W. Sohn erected a building on Front street, at that time opposite tfte Second Ward School House. On the corner of Third and High streets J.

W. Davis and George Dye erected a business block; and immediately west of the same, Jackson Co. erected a substantial building. On the west side of the river, Daniel Rumple erected a fine three story business block on the northwest corner of Mian and bts. St.

Mary's Catholic and the Baptist churches were erected in ths year. The first water power leased was to Erwm, tcr Erwin, who erected a mill at the east end of the Miami bridge. The Hydraulic Company passed the first water through their lower level from Fourth street down Stable street to the Miami river on Monday the twenty-seventh day of January, 1845. This lower level was thre feet in depth, turning the water wheels of Messrs. Erwin Hunter's flour mills and the Tobias Brothers' machine shop, near the east end of the bridge.

The i work done by water power was done by the Tobias Brothers, January 31, 1845. The i i a name of the Miami river was Te- wighte-wa. This was the name of the Miami tribe of Indians. The Lane Library--This institution was founded by Clark Lane. He erected, i the building and equipped it with a collection, of nearly 2,000 volumes of choice literature.

The building was begun in April, 1866 and formally opened to the public October 20th of the same year. The Public Schools: This historical sketch should have been written at an earlier period, as part of our school history has been lost--beyond recovery and no writer on the subject will be able to supply the missing i The i school was erected in Rossville (the West Side). At a special election, held April 13, 1851, the schools of Hamiltoiii passed under the control of the Akron School Law. In 1852, the work of grading aud classifying our schools was begun. The Ohio school law bore i and put an end to private schools thereby i i the yoxith of the commonwealth an avenue to secure an excellent common school education.

In 1851, Hamilton and Rossville were annexed, by the articles of a i it was then stipulated that a high school building should be erected at an early date, in the First Ward and the High School should forever remain in the West Side. Thomas L. Rhea to donate a two-acre site tor the i i on Prospect Hill. The proposition was not accepted nor the building erected as specified in the compact between the two villages. In Hamilton early attention was given, to the important subject of education and in our infancy tht i school was established by Mr.

Richie in 1809, Front street, near the then Scott residence. Rev. M. G. Wallace, in 1810, a school on Court street, opposite the United Presbyterian church, which was i i 1814.

Miss Ellen A. McMechan was the first lady teacher of Hamilton. In 1819 she taught at the corner of Third and streets. In 1821 Rev. Francis taught school in a frame building on, the corner of Third and High Streets.

In 1852, F. N. Slack was appointed principal of the Third ward school and F. Jenkins assumed charge of the Second ward building. I April, 1864, President Lincoln called for 500,000 additional troops to aid in the suppression of the rebellion and under the a which followed in May of that year Butler County's apportionment was 419.

The Union mass meeting held in Hamilton, A i 18, 1863 was a a i i success. The town as of flags and patriotic decorations. Across High street at the court house a large banner was with the following devices: About a portrait of President Lincoln was "The people will sustain the people's choice; the honor to a President and not to a partisan." About the portrait of Washington was "The Union, it shall be preserved." These mottos were inscribed on. the banner: "Protection to the rights of all sections." "The maintenance of the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and the preservation of th Union at all hazards." XThe time has come when demagogues must go under." "The security of the Republic requires the maintenance of the laws." Public ownership of the gas works first took shape in 1887-1888. The committee of control which had the matter in charge composed of S.

S. Williamson, Joseph H. Long, George T. Reiss and Edward E. Hull city solicitor.

An ordinance was prepared by Solicitor Hull under the direction of the committee on gas, and passed the city council February 22, 1888. This ordinance provided for submitting to a popular vote, the question of erecting or purchasing a gas works to be operated by the city. The vote was taken at the municipal election in the following April and the project was approved by a large majority. Francis X. Black, on May I 1891, introduced a resolution in city council providing that the president appoint a committee of three to investigate and ascertain the cost of i in an electric plant, for the purpose of lighting the streets and public grounds by electricity; and the probable cost of running the said plan.t in connection with the city gas works.

The resolution was adopted and the chair appointed F. X. Black, Henry Welsh and Peter Schwab as the committee. Henry Welsh, while a member of council, well earned the title of the "Father of the Electric Plant." He worked for it, argued for it, and advocated it. He underwent various defeats and reverses, but emerged from them all stronger in his faith than ever and more determined upon the accomplishment of his object.

It was largely through his persistence and persevering that the plant was finally established. Some of the early banks of Hamilton The Bank of Hamilton in 1817; Th a and i Bank in 1855; The Peck Bank, 1857. The First National Bank was organized August 16, 1863, Micajah Hughes, was elected first president. The First National Bank was among the first in the. United States to avail itself of the privilege of securing a charter under the National Banking Act.

The Second National Bank was organized January 19, 1865. It's first location was in the Old Hamilton. House building. Subsequently it was removed 0 the Beckett block. The Miami Valley National Bank was organized March 10, 1888.

Hon. Peter Murphy was elected dent. In the fall of 1847, the people of Hamilton demanded a rural cemetery. On the 20th of May, 1848, the trustees held their first meeting, John H. Shuey, clerk, be'ing present.

John M. Millikin wai chosen president and William Wilson, treasurer. At a meeting held by the stockholders on the 18th of May, for the purpose of choosing a name, several were suggested. Twenty-four votes were cast for the adoption of "Greenwood" as the name of the cemetery association and seventeen, votes for "Hamilton." William Bebb was born in Morgan township, Butler County. He was admitted to the bar in 1831, when he removed to Hamilton and opened a law office, a long time in partnership with John, M.

Millikin, where he continued fourteen years of successful practice. During this period he took an active part 'n politics. Four years afterward he was elected governor of Ohio. James E. Campbell was Hamilton's other Governor of Ohio.

Mr. Campbell was also a representative in Congress from 1884-1889. The initial step toward erecting a suitable moiiu- ment to the soldiers and sailors and the pioneers of Butler County was taken on Juiy 20, 1897. At a meeting of Wetze! Compton Post, No. 96, G.

A. R. in that year, Commander William Cordes appointed a committee of i whose duty should be to devise some plan whereby to commemorate the illustrious gallant services of Butler County men, in. the army and navy in their country's service and defense, also the names of the makers of the West, the pioneers of western civilization. committee of three of W.

C- Mar- Jospeh W. Myers and N. B. Tubtw. This was passed January 18, 1898.

County Infirmary--Prior to 1830, Butler County made no provision for the care of its indigent About this time it became apparent that steps must be taken to establish an infirmary near the county seat and no manifest was the necessity for such an institution that county commissioners, on June 4. 1831, appointed a committee's De Camp to receive proposals for a site. Acting on the committee's recommendation, the county commissioners, on August 2, 1831, purchased a tract of land containing ninety-nine and one-third acres for i i a purposes, of Thomas Espy for $1,800, one half payable in. cash, the balance in one year. In December of the same year James McBride prepared the plans and specifications for the infirmary buildings, and on July 6, 1832, Daniel Doty, who had been awarded the contract to erect the same commenced the work.

The citizens of Hamilton have good reason to feel proud of the location, beauty and wealth of Hamilton. That which has contributed more than all else to the prosperity and growth of Hamilton is her many factories. The city is fortunate in havfng the best facilities for the promoting of manufacturing enterprises. No city in the west for years, was afforded better water-power, to which fact alone is due the establishment and development of many of our largest a a i plants of the past. The early history of a a i in Hamilton is due closely with the i i of the a i system.

The following are i brief sketch of some of the early Hamilton factories: Miller, Campbell Saw Mill, established in 1849; Owens, Lane Dyer Machine established 1845; the cotton factory, built by William Bebb and L. D. Campbell in 1845; Miami Paper Mill, established in 1849; Hamilton Paper Mill, established in 1848; The People's Mill, erected in 1845; Harriett's Saw Mill, erected in 1851; Shuler and Bennlnghofen's Woolen Mill, built in 1846; Hamilton Plane Factory, of 1851; A. Potter's Marbe Works, of 1846; Peter Black's power plsnt; Hydraulic Sash Factory, established by S. K.

Leiter; The Hamilton a i Mills, was established John W. Erwin and William Hunter, on High street in 1844. A. Benninghofen Co. carried on the spoke an.d hub bent material business from 1850-1868.

The Long and AHstatter in February, 1854; Peter Black purchased the Tobias lot, at the northeast corner of Water and Stable streets, where he erected a large establishment for the manufacture of plaws, axes, and edge tools. He used water power for his trip hammers. Dienzer, Stephen. in 1858. Leonard Dienzer began the manufacture of fine carriage spokes, hubs, an drims in a building adjoining the factory of Ben- ninghofen Co.

Henry Stephen was admited to the firm in 1861 and in, 1875 G. W. Frechtling came in as a partner. They used only the best of material and claimed that the oak of Butler county and the hickory of Union, Darke and Mercer counties, grown on high lands, had no superior anywere in the country. Dien- zer Stephen found a market for their goods in California and throughout the west.

They also sold goods to England and Germany. The Hamilton River Mills was located on the east bank of the Miami river. It was erected in 1828. There is not enough space in these two pages to discus thoroughly Hamilton's manufacturing history, we have associated only some of the earliest of this city. Even at these early dates Hamilton had a wide and varied line of manufacturing establishments.

There are many interesting facts and historical events crowded into the history of Hamilton, Hamilton has withstood many attacks by the Indians; passed through hard times for example the hard times and stagnation of business in 1858. Hamilton has met with reverses and defeats but emerged them all with a much stronger faith in Hamilton. From 1791 Hamilton has always been a stronghold so it is today, protected not by Fort walls but by big industries. (Have the Faith in Hamilton that is due closely to the i i of the hydraulic system. THE CENTRAL MOTOR CO.

MIAMI MODEL LAUNDRY CO. (ESTABLISHED 1887) DAMP WASH 5c Ih. THRIFTY 7c Ib. All flat work ironed 107-109 Main St. Phone 450 A (ESTABLISHED 1914) AUTO GLASS WINDOW GLASS 522 East Ave.

Phone 1667 A (Exclutive Farrier) Furs Cleaned, Repaired, Remodeled and Stored 322 SO. THIRD ST. PHONE 4983 A (ESTABLISHED 1890) The Home of Good Coffee, Fine and Sandwiches. "A Good Place to Eat." Main Phone 1066-W ERNEST A. ROEMER Hardware, Paints, Glass, Varnishes, Toys and Sporting Goods, Garden Seeds 2275 PLEASANT AVE.

PHONE 538 Our Shoes Are All Leather BROWNBILT and STAR BRAND Shoe Rebuilding Where Quality and Workmanship Are Supreme RIEDEL SHOE SERVICE THIRD MARKET STS. (ESTABLISHED 1898) JOE HODKINSON, Prop. BRANNON'S BEAUTY SHOPPE (ESTABLISHED 10 YEARS) 511-12 First Nat'I Bank Bldg. Phone 3694 THE WM. B.

WICK LUMBER CO. (ESTABLISHED 1887) Lumber and Building Materials 412 MAPLE AVE. PHONE 52 -WE DELIVER- CARL EB1NGER Quality Foods Phone 2056--5661 7th Vine St. JOHN J. HOLBROCK (FOUNDED 76 YEARS AGO) The oldest in the city Quality Shoes from $3.00 to $7.00 110 SO.

THIRD ST. PHONE 799 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK (ESTABLISHED AUGUST 15, 1863) BROWN'S CIGAR STORE (ESTABLISHED, MARCH 7, 1903) Cigars, Cigarettes, Tobaccos and Magazines 110 High St. and 358 Hifh St. WSE1DENSTICKER THREE GENERATIONS An Old Name in A New Setting A I I (ESTABLISHED 1911) 21 Years of Satisfactory Service COAL AND BUILDERS SUPPLIES MAPLE AND FOURTH STREETS Zfxzacfc GASOLINE, OILS ACCESSORIES (ESTABLISHED 1919) PATER'S SERVICE STATION The firtt independent drive- in ttaiion in the city. GASOLINE, OILS ACCESSORIES Eart Ave.

SL Grand Blvd. Central Are. So. Ave. THE EIKENBERRY BROS.

CO. (ESTABLISHED IN 1910) FEED, FLOUR, SEEDS FENCING N. E. Cor. 7th A.

Maple Ave. Phone 471 SPORTING GOODS 22 NORTH THIRD STREET SECOND NATIONAL BANK (ESTABLISHED JAN. 19, 1865) A Contervative Bank at Friendly Service -Read The Established of Theft Fin.