SOME MERCHANTS WHO WERE NOT EARLY PIONEERS
 - Continued
Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

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brilliant woman.  Rachel Wood was the wife of George Myers, a Lancaster merchant.  Soon after retiring from business, John Wood, with two of his sons, moved to Indianapolis, Ind.  The investments he made there proved a fortune to his family.  John Wood, brother of Mrs. Daugherty, told the writer when in Indianapolis that he was a merchant in Lancaster in the year 1835.

LEVERING & CASSEL

     Levering & Cassel (Maris Levering) came to Lancaster from Baltimore, Md., and opened a store in the year 1829.  They were poor merchants and in a year or two made a disastrous failure.  Cassel went from here to Rochester, N. Y.  Maris lived in and about Lancaster the remainder of his life and died in the year 1862. 

BROWNING & NOBLE

These gentlemen were well known merchants in Lancaster in 1826, and continued their business until 1829, Colonel Noble devoting his whole time to his hotel. Browning moved to Mt. Vernon, where he is said to have accumulated a fortune. 

JOHN CREED

     John Creed, son of W. P. Creed, purchased the stock of Julius Vagnier in 1866, which he conducted but a short time. 

LOUIS SCHLEICHER

     Mr. Schleicher settled in Lancaster in 1847.  He carried on the grocery and bakery on Columbus Street for many years.  His son succeeded to his business, and continues it with an increased trade.

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JACOB KELLER

     Jacob Keller arrived in Lancaster from Germany in 1847.  He first worked for Tatge as a cooper and afterwards for the Mithoffs at Lockville, O.  He returned to Lancaster in 1860 and began a wholesale and retail grocery business.  It was not long before he turned his attention to milling and pursued that business for several years in Lancaster and Logan.  He now resides upon one of the best four-hundred acre farms in Fairfield County.  He is a careful, shrewd, and thorough business man and thoroughly honest.  He has accumulated a hand- some fortune.  Besides his farm he owns four fine business properties in Lancaster in connection with his son-in-law, C. F. Kirn.  He is also one of the stockholders or partners in the Farmers and Citizens’ Bank.

KELLER BROS.

     Keller Bros, began business in Lancaster as grocers in 1865 on the corner of Columbus and Walnut Streets.  In a few years the firm dissolved and Christian Keller succeeded to their business.  Mr. Keller is a good business man and controls a fine trade.  He is also a leading member of the city council.

LEVI FRIESNER

     Levi Friesner left a fine farm and moved to Lancaster and opened up a grocery store in the year 1865.  Like most of such ventures on the part of farmers, it proved a complete failure.

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DANIEL BUSH

     Daniel Bush, another farmer, came to Lancaster and became a grocer in 1863.  He did a good business on the Swan corner for a few years, but grocery and farm were soon gone.

BAIN, WHILEY & CO.

     Samuel Whiley and brother Thomas came to Lancaster and opened a hardware store in July, 1866.  They were from Greenfield, Ohio.  Bain, a former citizen of Marion, Ohio, but at the period named of New York City, had an interest, as had F. C. Whiley, of Greenfield.  Samuel was in early life a clerk for Bain in Marion and spent one year with him in New York.  In 1872 F. C. Whiley moved to Lancaster and became an active member of the firm. Thos. Whiley died some years since; Samuel Whiley, quite recently.  Their hardware business was disposed of some years since to W. B. Maccracken.  The Whileys then organized the Eagle Machine Company.

SAMUEL WHILEY, SR.

     Samuel Whiley, Sr., was born July 1, 1838, at Threekingham, Lincolnshire, England.  At the age of fifteen years he, with some relatives of his mother, emigrated to the United States and became a resident of Marion, Ohio, in the year 1853.  He obtained employment as a clerk in the hardware store of J. W. Bain.  He spent eight years in Marion and is well known to all of the old citizens.  S. A. Griswold, of this city, was then a resident of Marion, and a warm friend of Mr. Whiley.  In April, 1862, he removed to Greenfield,

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Ohio, and in connection with his brother, F. C. Whiley, and J. W. Bain engaged in the hardware and implement business.  In the year 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Eckman, daughter of Judge Eckman, one of the prominent men of Greenfield.  In the year 1867 he and his brother Thomas removed to Lancaster and opened a hardware store of which E. C. Whiley, who continued their business in Greenfield, was a partner.  In 1870 he, with his brother, E. C. Whiley, and the Purcell Bros., organized the Eagle Machine Co., E. C. Whiley, president, and Samuel Whiley, secretary.  Mr. Whiley always had a taste for the manufacturing business, and in the year 1873 had become so thoroughly interested in the new plant that the brothers sold their hardware business to W. B. Maccracken.  The Eagle Machine Co. was a success from the start and Mr. Whiley’s connection with it was severed only by death.  In the year 1893, he and his associates organized the Farmers and Citizens’ Bank of which he was president at the time of his death.  He had been president of the city board of gas trustees for several years, having been elected trustee by the popular vote.  He was re-elected for a term of three years in April, 1896.  The gas plant has been successfully managed upon business principles, and much of the credit, by common consent, is awarded Samuel Whiley.  The best evidence of this is the fact that Mr. Whiley held this position for years —practically without opposition.  When the law creating the jury commission went into effect some three years ago, Mr. Whiley was appointed a member of that body by Judge Slough, and has served in that capacity since then.  For thirty years he had been an honored and useful

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citizen of Lancaster, and in all that time, neither his word or integrity was questioned.  His oldest brother, John, father of Frederick S., a retired army officer, resides in England.  His only other surviving brother is F. C. Whiley of this city.

VICTOR VAGNIER

     Victor Vagnier was a grocer in Lancaster in the year 1861, but did not remain long in the business. B. Vagnier opened a grocery store in Lancaster in the year 1861 and continued with profit for a number of years.

MYERS & BRO.

     Charles and George Myers were in the grocery business for a year or two along in the sixties.  Charles had previously been associated with Charles Pairon.  He retired from the firm in the year 1866.

ANDREW BAUMAN

     In October, 1865, Andrew Bauman purchased the stock of Samuel Beery and commenced the grocery and baking business.  He has since added a wholesale department.  He has been an active, well-known, public spirited citizen of Lancaster since the war.  For. many years he has been one of the water works board.  He has been one of the most active promoters of the electric street railroad and one of the stockholders.

GARDNER AND CHERRY

     Gardner & Cherry purchased the stock of Charles Pairon in the year 1866, but did not long remain merchants of Lancaster.

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HENRY H. GIDDINGS

     Henry H. Giddings, a native of England and a well-trained groceryman, was a merchant for a time in Rushville and Carroll.   He spent many years of his life here, much of the time clerk and warehouseman for Reber & Kutz.

JOHN MILLER

     John Miller, son-in-law of John S. Snider, was a resident of Lancaster in 1852, and clerked in Flemm’s Hotel.  In 1853 he was clerk in J. F. Beck’s dry goods store.  In 1862 he opened a dry goods and millinery store in Lancaster, but in 1868 made an assignment and soon thereafter removed to Kansas City.

A. BRENNAMAN

     Mr. Brennaman first clerked for Geo. Wygum in 1851, and in 1854 conducted a business of his own.  He was chief clerk of the postoffice under J. L. Tuthill.  In 1854 he opened a book store and conducted it until July, 1897, when he made an assignment.  He was for several years president of the school board and through his personal efforts the board secured the north school lot of five acres from the Kemerer estate.

MOSES LEVY & JACOB BLOCK

     Moses Levy and Jacob Block commenced a clothing business in Lancaster in the year 1856.  In 1865 they made an assignment, Levy continuing a small business which he finally closed out.  He died in Lancaster and his family moved to St. Louis.

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JACOB BLOCK

     Jacob Block went to Cincinnati and from there to Rushville, Ind.  From Rushville he was sent to the penitentiary for manslaughter and was released in about three years.  He then moved his family to St. Joseph, Mo., where he built up in connection with his five sons a fine business and in April last died leaving his family a handsome fortune.

DAVIDSON & BRASEE

     Davidson & Brasee purchased the stock of George Kauffman’s estate November, 1867.  Geo. B. Brasee soon retired from the firm and Dr. Andrew Davidson has since conducted the business on his own account. 
     Dr. Davidson is a native of Ireland, born in the year 1819.  He came when quite a boy to Fairfield County in the year 1835, and studied medicine with Boerstler & Edwards in the year 1842-3.  He married the sister of Rev. Granville Moody and settled down to the practice of medicine.  He was an army surgeon and ran the batteries at Vicksburg, was captured on a bale of hay and taken to Richmond, Va.  He has for many years been a breeder of fine horses.

BENJAMIN CONNELL

     The life of this citizen was traced in the sketch of Latta & Co. to his farm west of town.  In 1835 he returned to town and became a member of the firm of Devol & Parsons.  Parsons died March 4, 1837, and the firm-name was changed to B. Connell & Co. 
     March 29, 1839, a sale was made to Rice & Hedges, and they in time sold to Rice & Ring.  In 1836 B. Connell built the canal mill, the same afterwards

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ated by Brasee & Kauffman.  In 1837 he sold the mill to Harvey & Price, and in 1838 he became a partner in the firm of Work & Connell in the tin and coppersmith business.  In 1844 Joseph Work retired from the firm leaving John Work and Connell to prosecute the business. 
     In 1849 the concern was closed up and Mr. Connell, after a long, honorable and laborious life, found himself in straitened circumstances.  His friends rallied to his relief and he was appointed postmaster of Lancaster.  He died soon after retiring from the postoffice. 
     He had handled thousands of dollars without wronging any man, but died poor, leaving what is better than riches, yea great riches, “a good name.”  His first wife was a Miss Matlack; his second wife was a sister of Dr. Robert McNeill.

ANDREW REED

     Andrew Reed sold dry goods in Lancaster in 1860.  He closed out his business here in 1864 and located in Urbana,

O. BLACK & COLES

     Black & Coles sold goods in Lancaster in 1866.  Black sold out to a Mr. Douglass and the firm became Douglass & Coles.  They were in Lancaster but a few years.

SAMUEL CRIM

     Samuel Crim came to Lancaster as a clerk from Pennsylvania.  In 1839 he, with William Clement,, opened a dry goods store. August 4, 1840, they dissolved partnership, Crim continuing in the business.  In 1843 the firm became Crim, Hart & Co., Jesse B. Hart and Wm. Hart being partners. Jesse B. retired from the firm in the year 1845.  Some time after

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event Wm. Hart withdrew from the firm, and a brother of Crim took his place.  We cannot name the year, but in time this firm closed up their business, and Crim ceased to be a merchant.
     In connection with Thomas Sturgeon in 1850 he opened a large sales-stable, where they bought and sold horses.  In 1852 they crossed the plains with one hundred head of horses, and again in 1860.  Crim returned to Lancaster in 1861 and moved his family to San Francisco.  Here he accumulated a large for- tune.  He died several years since.

P. H. KRANER

     P. H. Kraner was born in Germany and came to Lancaster at an early age. He was first employed by John Creed to do chores about the house. He was employed as clerk by Latta & Connell, by Ainsworth & Co. and by Ainsworth & Willock.  He was a fine clerk.  In 1846, September 24, he, with W. W. Cox as partner, opened a dry goods store.  They proved to be poor managers and were soon closed up.  Kraner was a forty-niner and spent the balance of his life in San Francisco.  He died a year or two since.

PERRY D. FOSTER

     Perry D. Foster, son of F. A. Foster, sold goods in Lancaster in 1845.  After an experience of one year he sold out and went west.

HOPKINS & SYMONDS

     Hopkins & Symonds were jewelers in 1839, but were in business not more than two or three years.  They returned to Boston, from whence they had come

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J. C. KINKEAD & CO.

     This firm was composed of Kinkead, Myers, Fall and Collins.
     They were wholesale and retail grocers in the year 1838.  In January, 1841, Jno. C. Fall withdrew from the firm.  In the year 1842 Kinkead became sole proprietor by purchase and associated with himself Samuel Doty, under the name of Kinkead & Doty.  This firm had a prosperous career and in the year 1856 dropped out of the grocery trade and gave sole attention to the grain and commission business.  This continued until the year 1862.  They then purchased a half interest in the Magnolia Flouring Mill.  Kinkead & Doty had a long career and as partners never had a difference or an unkind word.
     Sometime in the sixties they sold their interest in the mill and retired from business.  Mr. Doty in his old age moved to Missouri, where he died. Kinkead retired to his country place, where he spent many quiet years.  His first wife was a daughter of Samuel Effinger; his second, a daughter of Richard M. Ainsworth.

CAPT. J. C. HENLEY

     Capt. J. C. Henley was a native of Pennsylvania.  He came to Lancaster from Columbus, Ohio.  He was a plasterer by trade and worked in Dayton and Cincinnati and the south before coming to Lancaster, which he did in the year 1834.  He worked at plastering here until 1840, when he began the grocery business.
     In 1844 he opened a dry goods store and continued it until 1862.  He enlisted in the Union Army, was elected captain and served to the end, returning to Lancaster in 1865.  His wife was the daughter of the old pioneer, Sosthenes McCabe.

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JOHN WORK

     John Work was for years a merchant of Lancaster.  In 1838 he was associated with Joseph Work and Benjamin Connell.  In 1844 Joseph Work withdrew.  On account of the failure in outside business of B. Connell, the business of the firm went into the hands of a receiver in 1849.  John Work purchased the stock and in eight months sold out to Beery & Bitler.  Work was idle for one year, when he again opened a tin and stove store.  In January, 1857, he gave his son Charles an interest, under name of Work & Son.

JAMES McMANAMY

     James McManamy was for many years a tin and stove merchant.  He began business in 1853.  He made a success of his business and educated his sons, who took charge after his death.  He was an honorable man and a modest, successful salesman.  He prided himself on selling goods that were always worth the money.

WISE & HILLIARD

     Wise & Hilliard began business in Lancaster in 1846, coming from Rushville.  Hilliard died in 1849.  W. T. Wise continued the business until the year 1854, when he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1857.

HENRY A. GEBELEIN

     Mr. Gebelein began life as a cabinet-maker.  He sold goods for a while for a Philadelphia commission house.  In March, 1853, he opened a grocery store upon his own account and continued the business for some

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GEORGE L. ECKERT

     George L. Eckert learned the trade of cabinet-making with Jesse Woltz in the year 1836, and spent two years in Rochester, N. Y., perfecting himself in it.  In 1841 in partnership with McCall he opened a furniture store in Lancaster.  McCall retired in 1845 and Eckert continued the business until 1861, when he sold out to Jesse Outcalt.

JESSE OUTCALT

     Jesse Outcalt went with Geo. L. Eckert to learn the trade in 1851, and continued with Eckert until 1861, when he purchased the stock.  He remained in the business but a few years.  Since retiring from business he has been a pattern maker, first at Hocking Valley works and afterwards for the Eagle Machine Co.  Stropel and Geo. Eversole were at one time interested with Outcalt in the furniture business.  The sons of Stropel are now furniture dealers on Main Street.

THE HOFFMAN FAMILY

     John G. Hoffman came to this country from Wittenberg, Germany, in 1830 with his father, John Hoffman, who formerly owned part of the Mithoff farm west of the city and who spent his last years on his farm in Berne Township.  His brothers were George, Frederick and David; his sisters, Mrs. Prof. Carl Schneider of this city and Mrs. Rev. J. J. Sutter of Gabon, Ohio.  In 1849 he was married to Anna Catharine Fiedler who also came with her father’s family from Germany, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in 1834, after a very rough voyage of sixty days’ duration on a sailing vessel.  Her father, William H. Fiedler, held a position for many years under the German govern-

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ment and at Lancaster was engaged in the grocery business, corner of Columbus and Wheeling Streets.  The trip of the family from Baltimore, Md., to Lancaster, Ohio, was in the true pioneer fashion, with wagon, guns, and trusty dogs.  Mrs. Hoffman’s sister, Mrs. Casper Shaeffer, was the mother of Mrs. Henry Cless, of Union Street, this city; her brother, Casper Fiedler, was a dry goods merchant of Baltimore and Somerset, Ohio, and also of Rock Island, Ill., where he died many years ago and where his widow and a part of his family still reside.  His wife was a daughter of Rev. Miles, who was a classmate of Thos. Ewing at Athens, O.  Her brother Jacob learned the printing business, but gave it up to join an overland party of gold hunters to California in the early part of 1849,  He was a dry goods merchant here in 1848 in the Stropel room and is now living in Cardington, Ohio.  John G. Hoffman was the father of George H., J. Frank, and John L., of Lancaster, William T., of Denver, Colorado, and Mrs. F. W. Gunther, of Bellevue, Ohio; one daughter, M. Louisa, having died in infancy.  He was a shoemaker and shoe merchant in Lancaster many years, and for several years had charge of the shoe department of the Ohio Reform School under the management of the late George E. Howe.  He was one of the John Morgan Militia who was drafted to remain at Columbus, O., which he did as a sergeant until discharged.  He died at the age of sixty-six years at his home on north Columbus Street, June 13, 1894.

HENRY CLESS

     Henry Cless, who married a granddaughter of Wm. H. Fiedler, was a tailor by trade.  He was a native of Germany, but lived the greater part of his life in Lan-

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caster.  He was a good, quiet, modest citizen and reared a large family of sons who are exceptionally good business men.  The oldest, George, is a member of the firm of Ulrick Cless, of Columbus, Ohio. Three of his sons reside in Des Moines, Iowa.

H. W. DEVELLING

     H. W. Develling was born in the city of Baltimore.  He was a resident of Zanesville, O., and in 1830 moved from there to Lithopolis.  He came to Lancaster in 1848 and opened a dry goods store, which he closed in 1850.  He then read law with Judge Welch, of Athens, O.  This was in 1852.  He returned to Lancaster in 1853 and again commenced the dry goods business, which he discontinued in 1856.  In 1859 he tried his hand at the grocery business, which he continued until 1865, when he permanently retired from business.

GEORGE J. WYGUM

     George J. Wygum was a native of Germany.  He came to Lancaster in 1836.  He learned the baking business with S. Beery & Cly.  He was clerk and baker for Cly until 1839.  In the year 1841 he was clerk for John U. Giesy.  In 1842 he began the grocery business for himself, and in 1846 formed a partnership with Samuel Beery, which continued to 1851.  In 1861 he enlisted in the army and was made quartermaster of the 61st Ohio Regiment.  After the war he removed to his farm in Greenfield Township, of this county, where he recently died.  His daughter, Mary, was well educated.  In her young days the Democratic ladies of Lancaster presented a flag to the Young Men’s Club.  Miss Wygum made the presentation speech.

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She has since married and has become the mother of five stalwart Republicans.

JOSEPH WORK, SR.

     Mr. Work was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1820.  He learned the business of shoemaking- with John Stallsmith, and soon after commenced business for himself.  In 1829 Robert Reed became his partner, but in 1831 they dissolved partnership, Joseph Work, Jr., taking Reed’s place.  John Work (son) was added to the firm in 1845.  Joseph, Jr., died in 1860.  The firm then became Work & Son; it had previously been Work, Son & Work.  Joseph Work, Sr., died in 1864.  After his death the brothers, John and James, conducted the business for some years.  
     Joseph Work was an honorable man and much respected.  During the greater part of his residence in Lancaster he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

SAMUEL BEERY

     Samuel Beery was born in Virginia and came to Ohio in 1805.  He became a resident of Lancaster in 1819.  He first learned the tanner’s trade with Henry Sutzen, whose tannery was on the ground now occupied by the Eagle Machine Co. In 1827 he became a clerk in the dry goods store of W. & C. King.  In the year 1829 he commenced the grocery business on his own account. 
     James Cessna became his partner in 1830 and so continued until 1837, when Cessna sold his interest to Jacob Cly. In 1839 Beery sold out to Cly. 
     In 1846 Beery, with G. J. Wygum as partner, opened a large store in the Tallmadge House block.  In the year 1848 Beery sold to Wygum and opened a grocery

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store in his own building on the north side of Main Street.  In 1856 George Burberry became interested but did not long remain.  In 1865 Mr. Beery sold his stock to Andrew Bauman and his building to D. Tallmadge.  He died after a painful illness in the year 1867.

JOHN SEARLES

     John Searles came to Lancaster in 1820.  For thirty years he was engaged in the pottery business.  In 1850 he purchased the stock of books of J. L. Tuthill and conducted the business until 1861.  He held several minor but responsible offices during his life and always maintained an honorable character.

W. S. BEATTY

     W. S. Beatty, a native of Ohio, came to Lancaster in 1845 and opened a very complete book and stationery store.  In 1849 he sold his goods to John L. Tuthill.  In 1853 he was engaged on a newspaper at Athens, O.  Returning to Lancaster in 1855, he launched the American Democrat upon the world.  It was an anti-slavery organ.  In 1860 the Democrat was united with the Lancaster Gazette.  While at Athens he lost a fine library by fire and on his return fire destroyed his household goods.  For several years he manufactured cigars.

JAMES WEAVER

     James Weaver, son of Christopher Weaver, was born, in Lancaster.  His first business was that of a grocer.  In 1852 he was elected sheriff of Fairfield County.  Leaving the sheriff’s office he engaged in the commission and grain business.  Of late years he looked after his Iowa lands and took the world easy.  He reared a family of daughters, all of whom were married to

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good business men.  His wife was a daughter of Charles Mytinger, the old tailor of that name.  In 1837 and 1838 he was clerk of the Swan Hotel under Colonel Sager.

FREEMAN & RICHARDS

     These gentleman were contractors on the Ohio Canal and opened a store in Lancaster in the year 1829, which they carried on in the Creed block for three years.

SPENCER J. WRIGHT & CO.

     Spencer J. and Francis E. Wright came to Lancaster in 1864 and opened a wholesale grocery store.  Francis retired in a year or two and made some investments in Denver.  He was the father of the late Mrs. George P. Rising.  Spencer J. Wright continued the business until the year 1873, when he closed out and soon thereafter became a partner in the Commercial Bank with J. H. Cochran, who came here from Cambridge, Ohio.  Cochran had, for one year previous, conducted the Bank on his own account.  Cochran returned to Cambridge, Ohio, invested forty thousand dollars in coal mining, and died a year or two since a bankrupt. Mr. Wright continued the Commercial Bank until September, 1874, when it was merged into the Fairfield County Bank, with Wesley Peters as president and S. J. Wright cashier.  In a short time Wright resigned his position as cashier and sold his interest in the bank.  His next venture was the organization of the present Lancaster Bank, of which he was for a few years president.  He disposed of his interest in this bank about two years since.  He has since been engaged in the settlement of estates and in taking care of his real estate.  Mr. Wright is a good business man, quiet, and unassuming in his manners.

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JOHN A. COLLINS

     Mr. Collins was a well known partner of Fall & Myers. It was his money that was used to maintain the waning fortunes of the firm in the last years of its existence. His name will always be remembered in connection with the well-known brick block that bears his name, “The Collins Block.” He spent his old age upon his farm east of town and died at an advanced age.

W. J. ALKIRE & JEHU COLLINS

     Messrs. Alkire and Collins were partners as merchants, and dissolved January 17, 1840.

P. H. COLLINS & CO.

     They were merchants in the year 1841.

GEORGE W. BROCK

     Mr. Brock was a native of Zanesville, Ohio.  He came to Lancaster and entered the store of Reber, Kutz & Co. as clerk, where he remained several years.  Upon the death of his father-in-law he succeeded to his drug business and continued in it until his death.  He married Rose Sifford, well known in Lancaster society circles.

LEWIS THOMPSON

     Mr. Thompson was an early settler in Lancaster.  He was a grocer on his own account, and at various other times in partnership with some one.  He died in 1843.

JOHN G. WILLOCK

     Mr. Willock was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to Lancaster in the year 1826.  He, with R. M. Ainsworth, clerked for Latta & Connell, and in time

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succeeded to their business. In 1849 he sold out to Ainsworth.  After that he was salesman and clerk several years for Reber, Kutz & Co.
     His last employment was as an inspector of army Clothing at Cincinnati and St Louis.  John G. Willock was a well-educated man, and one of the society gentlemen of Lancaster.  He was a Freemason and Knight Templar.
     His first wife was a daughter of Judge Sherman.  She died young and he married for his second wife a sister of John H. Tennant.  In his prime John G. Willock was one of the elegant gentlemen of Lancaster, and was a member of its best society.  He died January 30, 1881, aged seventy-two years.

FROST & DURBIN

     The first regular boot and shoe store in Lancaster was opened in the year 1841 by two young men from the East, Frost and Durbin.  They occupied a room in the Green block.

P. B. EMBICH

     Mr. Embich, a well-known citizen of Lancaster, in connection with his father conducted a hardware store from about 1847 to 1852; but for want of capital, could not compete with such firms as Jno. C. Weaver, and they were compelled to close out.  He was an efficient clerk for many years in other establishments. In late years he has conducted a pension agency with considerable success.
     He was born in Lancaster, and attended the famous academy of Mark and Samuel L. Howe.  He knew most of the men described in these sketches and is familiar with events since 1830.  His brother, William,

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lived most of his life in Lancaster, though born in Hagerstown, Md. After a long and useful life, he recently died at the age of eighty-two years.

JOHN C. FALL

     John C. Fall enjoyed the distinction of being the most popular salesman of Lancaster.  He was born near Staunton, Va., and came with his mother to Ohio as early as 1827.  
     John C., at about seventeen years of age, entered the store of General S. F. Maccracken, where he remained a number of years, becoming for a short time a partner.  He was a member of other firms, under the names of Fall & Maccracken and Myers, Fall & Collins.  These firms made disastrous failures and Jno. C. removed to Cincinnati. 
     About the year 1849 or 50 he made the overland journey to California and landed at Marysville, where he soon opened a large store under a canvas tent.  He made a fortune here and returned to Lancaster and paid off his old debts.
     Returning to California, he engaged in some speculation and lost his fortune. He then repaired to Humbolt, Nevada, and was successful, making a handsome fortune, which he again lost in some adventure elsewhere.  His last venture in business was at Wilcox, Arizona.  Here he made money until his death at the age of eighty-two.  He died at his home in San Francisco.  He was three times married.  First to a daughter of John Connell.  His daughter by this wife married ex-Governor J. H. Kinkead, of Nevada.  His second wife was a daughter of John Creed.  John C. Fall was a man of great energy, never satisfied unless at work.  He was a man of the very highest integrity.

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REV. JACOB MYERS

     Rev. Jacob Myers was a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church and lived many years in Lancaster.  He was the father of George and Henry T. Myers.  His oldest daughter, Mary, married Jonathan Hill, a farmer of Walnut Township.  In 1850 they moved to Illinois.  Three of his daughters went to Rushville, Ill., as did his youngest son, Hamilton. His youngest daughter, Kate, married R. S. Blackwell, afterwards one of the distinguished lawyers of Chicago.  George Myers married a daughter of Jno. Wood, a merchant of Lancaster, in 1830.  He was a member of the firm of Myers, Fall & Collins.  
     Henry T. Myers married a daughter of Colonel Jno. Noble.  He was a merchant with varying fortune for several years; his business finally ended in disastrous failure.  When the Myers brothers failed they were indebted to David Ruffner, of Walnut Township, Mr. Ruffner came to town to look into the matter, and made a thorough examination.  Satisfying himself as to its extent, he came to the door, took off his hat and at the top of his voice exclaimed: “As Napoleon said at Waterloo, ‘All is lost for the present.’ ” Henry T. Myers was accused of some irregularity in his business affairs, and his eastern creditors proposed to arrest him.  He left Lancaster, and was followed to Cincinnati by Sheriff Samuel Ewing and was arrested at his hotel.  He got permission to see his wife in her room before departing for Lancaster.  In a short time two women came down stairs and passed out of the hotel.  One of the supposed women proved to be Myers in his wife’s clothing.  He made his escape and was not rearrested.   The next heard of him he was in

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Beardstown, Ill.  Here his wife died and was buried.  Myers soon thereafter we fit to California and never returned.  His daughter went to live with her grandfather, Colonel John Noble.  She became the wife of Edward L. Taylor, a prominent attorney of Columbus, Ohio.

WILLIAM A. RITCHIE

     Mr. Ritchie was called an adventurer.  He came from Canada to Lancaster when a young man.  Two young friends came with him.  Bull and Eckert.  Bull married Maria Wilson, step-daughter of John Latta.  Eckert married a daughter of Tunis Cox, and for a time was his partner in business.  His son Isaac lives somewhere in Iowa. Ritchie married a daughter of John Creed, and lived several years on the Creed farm, now the Mithoff home.  He was at one time a dealer in grain; and at another time, a pork-packer.  He was not a good business man and failed in everything he undertook, his father-in-law being the sufferer.  One of his last projects was the opening of a private bank, in the room now owned by John Naughten, with his Canadian friends as partners, under the name of Ritchie, Bull and Eckert.  The opening of this bank was preceded by a grand party given by Ritchie as a sort of opening.  The bank did not have a long life; they had no capital and depositors were not numerous.  This was a case of want of confidence.  Mr. Ritchie was charged by eastern parties with some irregularity, and they came to Lancaster in a carriage and kidnapped him; he was politely invited to take a ride, which invitation he accepted, and the ride was continued to New York City.  Henry Stanbery went to New York and secured his release.  Returning home he soon removed to Cincinnati, where he obtained some

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kind of clerkship.  Eckert left Lancaster and it is not known where he ended his days.  Mr. Bull paid some attention to real estate, besides his business connection with Ritchie.  His whereabouts, if alive, is unknown. Ritchie sometimes had money, and he built and owned for a time the Wetzel Hotel building.

MAHLON SMALLEY

     Mr. Smalley was for many years a hatter and the proprietor of a hat store in Lancaster.  He was a well- known citizen and much respected, and was for years a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He occupied a room in the Green block when it was destroyed by fire, but saved most of his goods.  He was a quiet, modest merchant, content with small gains.

JOHN CONNELL

     John Connell, brother of Benjamin Connell, was a citizen and merchant of Lancaster for many years. 
     He was a partner in the firm of Latta & Connell, and was also for a few years a jobbing merchant of Pittsburgh, Pa.  He finally failed in business and his brother, Benjamin, who was his backer, went down with him.  He had a family of five daughters, all of whom married Lancaster men; viz., Gabriel Carpenter, brother of Dr. Paul Carpenter, John C. Fall, James ‘Sherman, James C. Maccracken, and Dr. King, the dentist. 
     In the years 1833 to 1841, and for a year or two thereafter, he was a hardware merchant.  In a few years he met with reverses and as stated carried his brother Benjamin down with him. 
     Both Benjamin and John Connell reared good-sized families.  So far as known but one child of each sur-

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vives.  Most of them sleep with their parents in Elmwood cemetery.  Carpenter, Sherman, Fall, and Maccracken are dead'.  Indeed but few survive who walked our streets from 1840 to 1850.  John Connell was an elegant gentleman, of fine manners and good address, and he was very highly respected.

ALVORD STUTSON

     Mr. Stutson was born in Zanesville, Ohio, August 8, 1835.  He moved with his father to West Jefferson, and sold goods for a brother until 1863, when he moved to London, Ohio, where he sold dry goods on his own account until 1870, when he moved to Topeka, Kansas.  There he was cashier of a bank until 1877.  In this year he came to Lancaster and purchased the dry goods store of Philip Rising, where he continued to sell goods for several years, commanding a splendid trade. He was a good merchant and a popular salesman.  He was married twice; the second wife was Miss Emma Norton, of Springfield, Ohio.  Mr. Stutson died in the prime of life, leaving his family a handsome estate.
     Stutson sold his stock to Hall & Becker.  Hall retired in a year or two and the firm was reorganized by H. E. Becker, Darlington Nourse, and Yontz, underthe name of H. E. Becker & Co.

THOMAS H. WHITE

     Mr White was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 20, 1820.  He came to Lancaster in 1836, where he first sold dry goods.  Later he was one of the firm of Efffnger, White & Latta, hardware merchants.  His wife was Rebecca P. Koontz, one of the Carpenter

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family.  For many years he resided on a beautiful little mountain called Koontz’s hill.
     He was elected justice of the peace in 1874, after the failure of Effinger, White & Latta.  He made a good justice and was re-elected two or three terms.

JOHN CLASPILL TUTHILL

     Mr. Tuthill was born in Lancaster, March 17, 1841.  He was educated in our schools and spent his leisure time as clerk in the postoffice under his father.  He also was chief clerk for C. M. L. Wiseman the first year of his term as postmaster.  He was the son of John L. Tuthill, a local politician of considerable influence.  Leaving the postofiice, he conducted a bookstore for several years.  He was a friend of James E. Campbell and did him some service in his campaign for governor.  In return for this service Governor Campbell appointed him State Librarian.  He was a good officer and popular with the patrons of the library.  John C. Tuthill was always a popular man in Lancaster and had a large circle of friends.  He died suddenly in the old Claspill home, where he was born.

WILLIAM STEWART

     Mr. Stewart was one of the old-fashioned merchants of Lancaster, and a plain, honest, unassuming man.  He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, September 1, 1816.
     Early in life he became a citizen of Hillsboro, Ohio, where he was for a few years engaged in the furniture business.  From there he moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, and again engaged in the same business.  April 14, 1846, he was united in marriage to Jane Neely, of Chillicothe.  Of this union were born three children, of

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whom Mrs. Samuel W. Busby and John W. Stewart survive. 
     In the year 1855, at the age of thirty-nine years, he moved to Lancaster, Ohio, and engaged in the queensware and crockery business.  Here for forty years he led a quiet business life and was a successful retail merchant.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows for nearly fifty-five years, and one of the oldest members of the Lodge. 
     Mr. Stewart was esteemed by all who knew him, and was an honor to his adopted city.  For forty or more years he was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Stewart died May 7, 1896, at the advanced age of nearly eighty years, having lived a long, useful and honorable life.

“A life well spent, whose earthly care it was
His riper years should not upbraid his green.”

HUGH CANNON

    Mr. Cannon was born April 25, 1827, in Donegal, Ireland.  For many years in partnership with William Watson, an open-hearted, generous Irishman, he conducted a grocery on lower Broad Street.  They were attentive to business and accumulated a handsome property.  Mr. Cannon was elected mayor of Lancaster in the year 1884, and served two or three terms very acceptably. 
     They were both (Cannon and Watson) good citizens, honorable men, and respected and esteemed in a large circle of acquaintances. 
     Henry Cannon, the son, is a merchant of Charleston, W. Va.  Watson was a bachelor.  John Naughten, his nephew, succeeded to his business and a share of his estate.

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CHRISTIAN LEHMAN

     Mr. Lehman was born in Baden, Germany, August 1, 1811.  He received a good education and learned the shoemaker’s trade.  He came to America in 1832, and settled first in Baltimore, Md., where he remained eight years. 
     In the year 1840 he came to Lancaster, Ohio, and pursued his calling of shoemaker. 
     He had been brought up in the Lutheran Church and soon became one of the leading members of St. Peter’s in Lancaster. 
     About the year 1855 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the grocery business, and handled some real estate with profit.  He returned to Lancaster in 1858 and opened a grocery, which he conducted until his death in 1860. 
     Mr. Lehman was a man very much esteemed.  He was a prominent member of the I. O. O. F.  His sons Henry and William, reside in Des Moines.  His son Christian lives in Lancaster and continues the father’s business.

PHILIP NESTER

     Mr. Nester was born in Baden, Germany, and came to Lancaster from there in the year 1850 with his father, then an aged man.  He was a painter by trade and followed his business for many years.  He then became proprietor of a large beer saloon and owner of a part of the old Tallmadge House.
     He was for years the chief of the fire department and a very efficient officer.

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HENRY LITTLE & CHARLES DRESBACH

     Henry Little and Charles Dresbach under the name of Little & Dresbach bought the stock of goods, which John Effinger purchased of Ainsworth in the year 1849, and continued business in the old room of Ainsworth & Willock for about fifteen years.  They were clever gentlemen and confined themselves strictly to selling goods, having no outside entanglements. 
     They married in Lancaster and belonged to the young set of 1840 or 1845. 
     Charles Dresbach for his second wife married the widow Rowland, a sister of Senator Morgan, of New York.  His brother-in-law procured him a position in the Custom House and he then moved to New York and made that city his home.  Samuel Dresbach had an interest in the business and was a good salesman.

JACOB WETZEL

     Mr. Wetzel was a native of Baden, Germany.  He came to America in the year 1848, and located in Lancaster, Ohio.  Here he followed his trade of a butcher until the year 1853, when he rented the frame hotel now known as the Betz House and named his hostelry The Golden Sun.  Later he occupied the brick building just east of Kinney’s warehouse and named his hotel the Badischer Hof.  Here he continued for many years.  He died in the year 1878. 
     George Wetzel, the druggist, and Jacob Wetzel, a printer, are his sons.  Wm. A. Ritchie built the brick building referred to.

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JACOB SHOFF

     Mr. Shoff was a resident of Lancaster in 1850, and for some years prior to that time.  He was a dealer in stock, and owned a good farm.  He reared a large family of children.  He moved to Nebraska and died there.  Mrs. Blaire owns and occupies his old homestead. 
     Horace Wiley, clerk in Stockwell & Baininger’s store, married one of his daughters.

A. FROMLET

     Mr. Fromlet was a native of Germany.  He came to the United States in 1851, and to Lancaster in 1889, where he was a good dry goods merchant.  He married Julia, daughter of the late G. G. Beck, in 1896.  He died recently and was succeeded in business by James & Fromlet, the latter being his only child.

WILLIAM L. KING

Mr. King was born February 20, 1814.  He was a printer by trade and the first telegraph operator in Lancaster.  He, with Jack Gruber, started a weekly newspaper about the year 1851, in Lancaster, called the Telegraph, in honor, no doubt, of King’s occupation.
     He was recorder of Fairfield County for two terms, deputy clerk of the court of common pleas for seventeen years, and city clerk for twenty years. Mr. King was a very quiet, modest citizen and much respected.  He died February 27, 1883.

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CHARLES F. RAINEY

     Mr. Rainey was born in Lancaster and lived here most of his life.  He was for many years a clerk for Reber & Kutz.  At one time he ran a grocery on the Green corner.  He was elected clerk of the court of common pleas and served two terms.  He was appointed by Cleveland a land inspector.  This took him to the West, and at the expiration of his term he settled in California, where he recently died.  He married a daughter of Jno. A. Collins. The great sorrow of his life was the loss of three fine children by scarlet fever in two weeks’ time.