BUSINESS INTERST OF WAVERLY - PEE PEE TOWNSHIP

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MANUFACTURES

     The Distillery and Flouring Mill of James Emmitt, by the magnitude of their products as well as the early date of their erection, places them in the front rank of productive industries in and about Waverly.  They were not built at the same time and are ran by separate powers, but they have always been owned by the same person or persons..., and by their proximity of location, together with the advantages of running the two together, which has almost always been done, makes their histories nearly identical.
     The mill was first built in 1836 by John Row & Co., which meant John Row, John F. Armstrong and Francis Campbell of Chillicothe.  It is situated at the lock on the canal bank, the builders having leased the waterpower of the State for thirty years.  In 1838, after the mill had been in operation some time with four run of stones, James Emmitt bought Armstrong's one-third interest. In the following year the capacity was enlarged by the addition of two more run of stones, and the mill began the production of flour for the market.  But during this year a great fall in the price caused the firm to lose $21,000.  In that day of slow and doubtful communication, they had been deceived by a false report that the potato crop in Ireland had failed, and thinking to seize the opportunity of the expected draft on this country for provision, all the grain that could be secured was purchased; but the falsity of the report and a subsequent fall in the price of grain caused the above sacrifice.  One of the partners, Mr. Row became disheartened and sold his interest in the concern to the surviving partners, Campbell and Emmitt.  In 1843Mr. Emmitt bought Campbell's one-half interest, and thus became by successive steps the sole owner of an already large and growing establishment.  In 1845 Christian Schultz, of Maysville, Ky., came to Waverly, bringing a large amount of capital, became associated with Mr. Emmitt, having bought half of the mill, and in the same year the two together built the first distillery.  During all this time the persons owning the mill had owned a retail store, and now Messrs. Emmitt and Schultz were equal partners in the mill, distillery and store.  They remained together four years, when the firm becoming heavily involved, Schultz sold his half-interest to James Davis, a wealthy resident of this county.  Undaunted by former reverses, these two had faith in final success and persevered with determination, notwithstanding the business had, before the advent of Mr. Davis, become barren of capital and in debt $80,000.  Mr. Davis being very wealthy, furnished all the capital needed, and Mr. Emmitt took upon himself the sole management.
     In 1850 the distillery was rebuilt and enlarged so that instead of consuming 800 bushels a day as formerly, it was given a capacity of 1,200 bushels.  With this enlargement the business assumed enormous proportions.  It

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was a market for 1,200 bushels of grain daily, produced 100 barrels of whisky a day, the barrels for which were mostly made in the large cooper shop in connection, and on the slops thousands of hogs were being fatted constantly.  The business was managed so successfully that within a short time it recovered from its embarrassment and was making money rapidly.  In 1854 Mr. Davis died and willed all his property to his wife.  She continued half-owner until 1856, when she preferred to withdraw from the business and Mr. Emmitt paid her $100,000 for her one-half interest, besides returning all the capital Mr. Davis had placed in the business above his purchase money, which was $20,000.  With these estimations it will be seen that the business had doubled its value two and one-half times in seven years following 1849.  For a few years following 1858, two of Mr. Emmitt's brothers, George D. and David were associated with him, but in 1865 he again became owner, paying them $20,000 each for their interests.  Since that time he has been the sole owner and the success has varied.
     In all these transactions the mill was considered part of the property.  Itwas doing an extensive business, turning out nearly 100 barrels of flour daily, but it was of small value compared with the distillery.  It has been rebuilt and enlarged, has received additional and improved machinery several times, and is at the present time doing an extensive milling business.  A cooper shop for the manufacture of flour barrels has been run in connection with the mill since 1837, although the number of barrels produced has always fallen short of the demand.
     The capacity of the distillery has been reduced by the Ohio Syndicate of Distillers to 360 bushels of grain a day.  With this limited consumption the product is twenty-five barrels a day.
     When the internal revenue tax on whisky was raised from 20 cents to $2.00 on the gallon, from 1858 to 1863, Mr. Emmitt had on hand 8,000 barrels produced from this distillery and another which he owned at Chillicothe, and from the consequent rise in price, realized him a clear profit of $600,000.  But Mr. Emmitt was not alone in this experience.  Many distillers and jobbers in the country who happened to have a large stock on hand were favored to a similar fortune by the action of the Government.
     Four thousand barrels of this whisky laid here in July , 1843, when General Morgan passed through this point on his last raid.  Here again the good fortune of the owner saved him from a great loss.  The distillery had been torn down preparatory to rebuilding, and this fact as it escaped discovery by the rebels doubtless saved it from the torch.

     The Stone Saw Mill, also near the mill, has been in the possession of Mr. Emmitt for the

     Steam Tannery

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     Schooler's Tannery

     Waverly Woolen Mills -

     Waverly Planing and Saw Mill -

     Gehres Bros.' Planing Mill and Lumber Yard. -

     Pee Pee Mills -

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BANKS.

TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

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THE BEAUTY OF ITS SURROUNDINGS.

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in the rear of the large store rooms across the street.

EXPRESS OFFICE.

LODGES.

     Orient Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M.,  was established at Piketon, then the county seat, in February, 1860.  The first organization was under a dispensation, but a charter was secured in the following October, on which the following names appear, viz.:  Arthur C. Davis, Alonzo J. Phelps, George D. Cole, J. J. Green, George Corwine, Charles E. Hempstead, Mark Ellis and John Kerns.  The first meetings were held in the court room.  A. C. Davis was the first to hold the office of Worshipful Master.
     The lodge was moved from Piketon to Waverly in January, 1863, the first meeting held here being on the evening of Jan. 1, 1863.
     The lodge has rented and furnished a large hall in the third story of the Jones & Downing building, on the corner of Market and Second streets.  The membership numbers about fifty, in good standing, officered at the present time as follows:  T. N. Barnes, W. M.; W. S. Jones, S. W.; James H. Moore, J. W.; William Wallace, Secretary; A. Downing, Treasurer; T. J. Jones, S. D.; J. M. Downing, J. D., and Joshua Smith, Tyler.

     Lansing Lodge, No. 369, I. O. O. F.  This lodge was instituted in Waverly, Aug. 6, 1862, with the following charter members, viz.:  Eli Potts, who was elected the first Noble Grand; Malin B. Moore, William D. Jones, J. J. Kellison, Charles F. Smith, D. H. Bishop, T. L. Kemp, Samuel Hibbins and John Kent.  The lodge held its meetings at first in the McKenzie building, afterward in the Kellison building, then, in the hall over the store of Charles Schauseil and in 1879 the lodge built and moved into their present hall over the Kent building, on Market street.
     There are about forty-three active members in the lodge at the present time, officered as follows:  William Gergens, N. G.; William F. Ambrose, V. G.; William R. Jones, R. S.; D. H. Bishop, P. S., and Fred Best, Treasurer.

BANDS.

     Waverly has had a brass band almost constantly since the late war.  The last one before either of the present bands was organized died out in 1878, but a new one was formed the following year.

     The Waverly Cornet Band was organized died out in 1878, but a new one was formed the following year.

     The Waverly Cornet Band was organized in August, 1879, under the leadership of A. J. Heibel who is still the leader.  It was organized with fourteen pieces, but the number is now reduced to twelve brass and reed instruments.

     Waverly Kid Band, so called on account of the youth of the members composing it, was organized in the spring of 1881.  It was

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composed of twelve members, ranging in age at that time from sixteen down to eight years.  It was started and still remains under the leadership of W. Schemberger.

WAVERLY IN 1883

PEE PEE TOWNSHIP

     This township is one of the original townships of Ross County, and was organized when that county was formed, in the year 1798.  It extended to the southeast corner of Ross County, which includes the present townships of Seal, Jackson and Beaver.  When Pike County was organized, Pee Pee was retained as a name for a township in Pike County, the original townships being Pee Pee, Jackson, Beaver, Sunfish, Mifflin, Seal and Washington.  The latter dropped out altogether.  Seal was taken in name to Scioto County, and Beaver and Jackson had been formed from Pee Pee by Ross County the year before the organization of Pike County, or in 1814.

AREA AND WEALTH.

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CHURCHES.

     German Evangelical Lutheran Church,

     Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church

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that, except at Jasper, the canal is but little need.  The advent of the railroads gives excellent transportation facilities to the township, which in this respect is better than any other township in the county, the two roads crossing the township.

BIOGRAPHICAL