CHAPTER XIX.

FOSTORIA

VILLAGE OF ROME-RISDON ANNEXED TO ROME-EARLY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES-ROME'S ROAD KEPT OPEN-HOUSES OF 1836-7-POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS-PHYSICIANS OF FOSTORIA -EARLY MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES-RISDON VILLAGE BEGINning of the BRICK BUILDING ERA-FOSTORIA'S TWO POST OFFICES -THE OLD FOSTORIA ACADEMY-THE FOSTORIA OF THE PRESENTWATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-AS A RAILROAD CENTER ITS NEWSPAPERS-PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHURCHES OF FOSTORIA-G. A. R. POST.

From a pen and ink sketch of Fostoria recently published by the Board of Trade we glean much of the following matter relating to the early times: In 1825 a little party of men, claiming Fort Ball as their home, formed a party in search of Elijah Brayton's They camped on the site of one of Fostoria's most busy business centers. These campers named the camp Fort McGaffey, after Neal McGaffey, leader of the party.

son.

Rome, a little village, was plated on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 6, township 2 north, range 13 east, by David Risdon for Roswell Crocker. This was done in August, 1832. The plat extended from South to North streets, on either side of the present Main street, in length a distance of three blocks. The village was incorporated under the name of Rome. Four additions were made to Rome, two by Foster in November, 1846, and in November, 1849. The Frank's addition was added on May 11, 1852, and the James Andes addition became a part of Rome in November, 1853.

The village of Risdon was located on the northwest corner of section 6, township 2 north, range 13 east. The platting was approved on September 6, 1832. The owner, John Gorsuch, named it after David Risdon, one of the surveyors who laid out the little village. One addition is recorded, Minear's, which was made in 1843.

In September, 1853, the inhabitants of Risdon petitioned the county board to be annexed to the incorporated village of

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Rome. This prayer was granted on January 2, 1854. In July of the same year the name of the little hamlet was changed from Rome to Fostoria. There have been between fifty and sixty additions to the city of Fostoria from the date of its actual birth in 1854. At present, additions are being constantly made to meet the demands made upon the city by reason of the influx of new families and new manufacturing institutions.

The first store was opened in 1832 by Foster and Crocker. The first manufacturing industry was a horse power grist mill, established in 1834 at the head of Wolf creek, by David Ferrier. The first brick house constructed in the neighborhood of Fostoria was built in 1837 by James Wiseman.

The first brick business block was owned by C. W. Foster and constructed in the early 60's.

The first frame house was built by Roswell Crocker, the date being uncertain.

Horse power grist mill, David Ferrier, 1834.

Crocker saw mill, Roswell Crocker, 1836. (Later converted into grist mill, then sold to Samuel Carbaugh, who converted it into a distillery.)

Braden and Yunker's carding mill, 1850.

Braden and Yunker's grist mill, 1853. (Destroyed by explosion in later years.)

Harness Factory, John Fritcher, 1840.

Saddlery, Jacob Fritcher, 1842.

The north ridge road ran from the west through Risdon, the south ridge from the same direction through Rome. Risdon and Rome were business antagonists and Risdon, accordingly, in the winter of 1840-45 petitioned the county board to have the south ridge road vacated.

The day was set for the board to inspect the road. Charles W. Foster interested a score of men with sleighs, there was a heavy snow on the ground, to go out the south ridge and wear down a road on the eventful day. He himself rented a front room in a house for the day, hung up a tavern sign and set up a bar and what looked to be an hotel office. When the county board came along the road they were surprised to see that the south ridge road had more traffic on it than did the north ridge and great was their surprise when they came to the tavern. Mr. Foster "happened along" and asked them what they were doing. He was informed they were inspecting the road with a view to closing it. "What? Closing this road? Say, gentlemen, come into this hotel and have something," said Mr. Foster. They went in. The tale of tremendous traffic was told, they saw the snow packed down by any number of sleighs and a hotel doing any quantity of business. The south

ridge road was not vacated, and Rome's business from the west was in no wise injured.

After the house of Crocker & Foster was established at Rome, it became evident to the founders of the village that a road from Tiffin to Findlay was necessary, and they had little trouble in convincing themselves that the shorter line for such a road would be via Rome. A bill to establish a road between the two county seats was before the legislature. It is related that Mr. Foster visited Columbus and had the words "via Fostoria" inserted, where the original bill read "from Tiffin to Findlay." This bill passed and the act was approved.

The log cabins of Rome and Risdon in 1836, when the Crockers' saw mill was erected were Crocker & Foster's store, C. W. Foster's log cabin, James Anderson's, Levi Johnson's and Roswell Crocker's on east Tiffin street; Elisha Sabin's, opposite Crocker's cabin; William Cadwallader's, Abram Gibbons, on East Tiffin street; John Copper's, just west of the "Earl House;" David Ferrier's, rear of Harbaugh's drug store; Baer's cabin, near the Union school house, between Rome and Risdon; Randall Hale's tavern, near the corner of the public square; Jacob Kizer and George Hampshire had their cabins here also. Eli Williams' cabin on East Tiffin street was sold to William Fox and purchased from him by Roswell Crocker for $30. Alonzo Lockwood's log house stood where John Green's residence later was; he built the second frame dwelling on the town site.

Samuel Laird kept a tavern in a log building opposite Foster's store in 1836.

John Hopper, a carpenter, who worked on the first frame house erected here, had a log cabin two miles southwest of the public

square.

James Wiseman, who lived in a log cabin, one mile southwest, erected a saw mill, constructed a mill race, and carried on the milling business there for years; he built the first brick farm house in the neighborhood of Fostoria in 1837.

Marshall Hays, the first tailor, resided on West Tiffin street, built the first brick dwelling house in the south part of Fostoria. John Brooks, built a frame house in 1837.

Stoner, after whom the office at Rome was named, lived three miles away, and the carrier was intercepted close by. This system remained until Dr. T. J. Bricker was appointed postmaster and established his office at Rome. David Hayes was commissioned postmaster at Stoner or Rome, in 1845.

R. C. Caples was the first regularly appointed postmaster at Risdon, in 1840. He was succeeded by Dr. Cole. E. W. Thomas was incumbent in 1847 at Risdon.

In 1847 the mail was carried by William Lowery, from

Bucyrus. He would come every Sunday at 2 P. M. from Bucyrus, and every Tuesday from Perrysburg. The rate of postage was

ten cents per letter.

On October 1, 1885, Tiffin and Fostoria were created immediate delivery office.

Marcus Dana settled in the northern part of Loudon in 1834; he died and his body was interred in the old cemetery, but was removed to the new one in 1856.

Alonzo Lockwood came to Rome about the same time, and resided there until his death, September 25, 1878. Dr. Kirkham settled at Rome in 1836 or 1837. Simon Bricker, who died in 1856 and whose body was the first interred in the new city cemetery, settled at Rome about 1843. George Patterson came about 1840. Robert C. Caples opened his office at Risdon in 1843. Drs. Cole, Snyder and Russell were here prior to 1843. G. A. Hudson came in 1850, died in 1869. J. W. Bricker arrived in 1850, and Dr. Metz in 1854. R. W. Hale came in 1856 and served as military surgeon during the war. A. M. Blackman came in 1860, served with the Union army and returned after the war. E. Ranger, of Milgrove, practiced here as early as 1860. W. M. Cake had his office in Bennent's block, in 1860. A. J. Longfellow settled here in 1861. In later years came P. E. Ballou, Charles A. Henry, George L. Hoege, Park L. Myers, J. H. Norris, F. J. Shaufelberger, W. H. Squires, A. S. Williams, L. G. Williams, John II. Williams, M. S. Williamson, Alvin Watson, I. M. Young and others.

The first manufacturing industry in Loudon township was the horse power grist mill, established by David Ferrier about 1834, at the head of Wolf creek. In June, 1847, one of the stones used in this mill was presented to the editor of the Fostoria Review, as a memento of the humble beginnings of the township.

The Crocker saw mill on South street, within eight rods of Roswell Crocker's home (the first frame house ever erected at Fostoria), was established in 1836, by Roswell Crocker. In August 1836, C. W. Foster had sawing done valued at $62.73, to build the warehouse which took the place of the old log warehouse. The house stood on the south side of South street, west of Main street about fifteen rods. Into this mill machinery was introduced for grist milling, and Mr. Crocker carried on the saw and grist mill business for some years, when he converted the building into a grist mill alone. In 1843 he sold to Samuel Carbough, who after some time converted it into a distillery.

In 1843 Roswell Crocker erected a grist and saw mill at Springville, which he operated for two years, when he returned to Fostoria, where John Crocker and C. W. Foster had erected a building for him. The same was later used for the manufacture of the "Magic Washing Machines," in which he operated a grist mill

They moved

himself, or leased, until 1865, when the building was sold to Fullerton & Ferguson, who ran it for some time. the machinery to Husdon, Steuben county, Indiana.

Braden & Yunker erected a grist mill in 1853 or 1854 (near their carding works), and introduced the best machinery known at that time. The buildings and machinery were destroyed by an explosion and young Brown and Wilson were killed. A brick building was erected almost on the site of the old mill, by Mr. Hammond. He sold the concern to Eversole and Noble, when another explosion occurred, killing a man named Hadley, and burying one Overmyer in the debris. The latter, however, was dug out, and recovered from his injuries. Eversole & Noble sold their interest to the Aylesworth Brothers, who sold to Benjamin Leonard and subsequently repurchased the concern. There are no records whatever on which to found a history of this industry.

A carding mill was constructed by Braden & Yunker about 1850. The Lees conducted a furniture store, and were interested in a grist mill. The mill was set on fire in 1847 and destroyed.

John Fritcher established the first harness shop about 1840. Jacob Fritcher established his saddlery in 1842. James Lewis had his shop, in 1846 or 1847, at Risdon. Andrew Emerine established his harness shop in 1848, three years after his arrival here. Thomas J. Pillars, a brother of Judge Pillars, established harness shops previous to 1848. William Weaver and Jeremiah Coe were harness makers at Rome in 1849. John W. McDonnell who came with his parents in 1842 was a harness maker. Samuel Gildersleeve was an early harness maker. Jacob Kridler came sometime previous to 1861. Isaac Warner opened his harness shop at Fostoria in 1861, having previously worked for Andrew Emerine from October, 1855, at Rome.

Joel Hale, Colhour and J. B. Way were the first blacksmiths. In 1842 James McDonnell opened a shop at Rome.

RISDON VILLAGE.

In 1847 S. G. Malony moved to Risdon, and thence to Rome in 1851, voting for the name of "Fostoria" subsequently. He states that in 1847 Mrs. Mickley, Sr., kept the Mickley House. Braden & Yunker had a carding mill at Risdon at this time, and William Braden conducted the post office, with Childs as assistant postmaster, and owned a furniture shop where the Aylesworth Mill later was. E. W. Thomas was a grocer; James Lewis harness maker; Daniel Ragan, tailor; John Quincy Albert, shoemaker. This trio worked in a small frame building, which stood in what is the center of Perry and Elm streets. John Becker was also a shoemaker. On the west side of Perry, fronting on Elm street, was