BUSINESS INTEREST 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 last two years.  It was first built by Richard Waters, whose first design was to erect a carding machine, and leased the water-power for that purpose, but before it was finished he sold out to two brothers.  William and John Butt, who converted it into a stone saw-mill and ran it for several years.  Maurice Ritchie afterward came into possession of it and ran it for over twenty years.  The stone which is here cut up into building blocks of every shape is the Waverly stone, quarried in the near vicinity.

     Steam Tannery - The large tanning establishment situated on Canal street near the distillery is the property of John William Sohn, of Hamilton, Ohio.  The first tannery at that place, which was the first in Waverly, was started by Judge Samuel Reed and Dr. O. J. Phelps, both of Piketon, in 1840.  It was run by them on a small scale for several years when they disposed of it to a Mr. Armstrong of Chillicothe, who kept it until 1858 when he sold to Sohn, the present owner.  After it had been bought by Sohn he spent about $1000,000 in new buildings

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and in enlarging and improving the facilities.  It has been improved at different times and is an important industry in the town.

     Schooler's Tannery, situated by the canal near East street, was started by Philip Schooler in the year 1848.  It has been run by him constantly since that time buy has always been run on a small scale.  About the time of the war his business was the best but now the products amount to but little, if any, over $1,000 a year.  It is a bark tannery, using from fifteen to twenty vats.

     Waverly Woolen Mills - This enterprise was started in 1862, by Hibbens, Bunshire & Co., who built and set in operation the present mill situated on North street.  The size of the building is 40 x 80 feet, three stories high, and substantially built of brick.  The original object was to do but little beyond custom work, which was then much more in demand than now.  In 1871 the builders sold to George D. Emmitt & Co., the firm consisting of C. Safford and G. W. A. Clough besides Mr. Emmitt.  They operated together about two years when George D. Emmitt bought out his partners, paying at the rate of $15,00 and still remains the sole owner.  The mills turn out flannels, stocking yarns, jeans, satinets and blankets and do some custom work.  They consume about 12,000 pounds of wool a year, giving constant employment to ten hands.  Besides the wool consumed here the owner buys and ships annually from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of wool to Eastern markets.  This wool is all raised in Pike County, which is rapidly growing into a leading wool-producing county.

     Waverly Planing and Saw Mill - This establishment was first built by James Emmitt, in 1863.  It was located on the canal bank, below the distillery, but moved up to its present location on North street in 1864. In 1865 it burned down, being then under the management of Tooips, Nesmith & Co., by whom it had been leased.  It was immediately re-built by the above-named company, and machinery added for the manufacture of furniture.  Before the fire it had been only a saw-mill.  It now turns out nearly all kinds of furniture, and dressed lumber for building.

     Gehres Bros.' Planing Mill and Lumber Yard. - This industry was started in June, 1870, by A. Gahres & Son, who built their factory on Water street, between High and East.  It was a wooden building, but fully equipped with Fay's machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and furniture.  In 1883 the ownership passed into the hands of the present firm,, Wm. S. and Joseph A., sons of A. Gehres.  Mar. 4, 1883, the entire establishment, including a large stock of lumber and finished work, was consumed by fire.  Not a dollar's worth of property was saved, and as there was no insurance the loss to the owners was complete, amounting to about $10,000.  The owners at once set to work to re-build, and in just 100 days after the fire started their new set of machinery.  The new building is an inexpensive frame, located on the same ground the old one was.  The new equipment does not include machinery for the manufacture of furniture, but turns out builders' mill work, including sash, doors, flooring, siding, molding, brackets, etc.  The capacity of the mill, with his two planers, is 10,000 feet a day.  In their large lumber yard at the head of Water street, pine and poplar lumber are principally handled.  The business amounts to about $14,000 a year.

     Pee Pee Mills - This extensive milling establishment is situated in the extreme western portion of the village of Waverly, where it was built by Geo. D. Emmitt, in 1864.  It is a fine four-story brick structure, has a large warehouse in connection, and with its other superior facilities is rarely surpassed as a flouring establishment.  At the time the mill first went into operation it contained two run of stone, two sets of bolts, and the

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usual complement of other machinery for custom work.  It was all of old style, and run by water-power alone.  In 1870 it was sold to Wm. D. Lee, who is still the senior partner in the firm Lee & Ware, the present owners and operators.  On Mr. Lee's accession he began at once to make important improvements and additions.  He built the warehouse adjoining, added new and costly machinery which increased the capacity and extended the reputation of the mill.  His most notable improvement was the substitution of machinery for a new process combining that of the burr and steel-rollers, which were just coming into use.  This idea of combining the old process with the new by running the wheat first through the burrs, then through the rollers, is entirely original with Mr. Lee, and for which he is entitled to great credit, as the experiment has proved highly successful.  In 1880, before the above change was made, Mr. John H. Ware became connected with the concern as part owner, and took charge of the books and general management.  It is situated on the banks of the Ohio Canal, whose water was utilized for the motive power.  A steam power has since been added, so that at the present time either or both may be used.  The mill runs night and day, and when running at its full capacity turns out about seventy barrels per day.

BANKS.

     The first banking establishment in the county of Pike was started by George Corwine, John Gregg and others, under the name of Corwine, Gregg & Co..., at Piketon, in the year 1859.  This firm continued to do a private banking business in Piketon up to 1862, when the firm was changed to Emmitt, Corwine & Co. by the purchase of John Gregg's interest by James Emmitt, and at the same time the establishment was moved to Waverly.  This was the bank to which the present

     Emmitt & Co. Bank is successor.  The firm remained Emmit, Corwine & Co. until 1871, when the partnership was dissolved and Corwine and James Jones, the third partner, retired leaving Emmitt the sole proprietor.  He then took David Armstrong as partner and Cashier, the firm name becoming D. Armstrong & Co., although Mr. Emmitt was the principal owner.  In 1874 Armstrong retired and H. E. Ware took his place as Cashe r and partner in the profits, at teh same time the firm name changed to James Emmitt & Co.  This arrangement continued until the death of Mr. Ware in the fall of 1882 since which time Mr. Emmitt has been alone and the business done under the name of Emmitt & Co.  The Cashier at present is John Masters.  The bank is kept on Market Street, near the corner of Water.

     Hays, Jones & Co.'x Bank was started in 1871, after the dissolution of partnership in the old bank by Geo. D. Emmitt, James Jones and Geo. D. Cole, the firm name being Emmitt, Jones & Co.  It continued in this way until 1875 when Peter B. Hays bought out the interest of Geo. D. Emmitt when the firm name was changed to Hays, Jones & Co. as it remains at the present time.  The bank is kept in the brick building, next door to the Emmitt & Co. bank, near the corner of Market and Water streets, Peter B. Hays is Cashier.

TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

     The first telegraph line put in operation through Waverly was the single wire along the Columbus and Portsmouth turnpike, put up in 1855.  The office at this place was taken charge of by Captain Ed Kinney, who was the first sound reader about the town.  He was operator until 1861 when he entered the army and E. O. Jones took his place.  The office has always been kept in Jas. Emmitt's private office, formerly on the south side of Market street, just west of the canal, but now

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

EXPRESS OFFICE.

     The Adams Express office was first opened here Jan. 1, 1878, as soon as the Scioto Valley R. R. began running express trains.  The office was kept at the depot by C. K. Sands.  He was succeeded in a few months by C. M. Zink, the office still remaining at the depot until 1880.  In 1880 W. H. Moody became the agent and moved the office to a small room opposite Emmitt's livery-stable on Market street.  Moody remained the agent till January, 1882, when James F. Genett, the present agent, took charge.  The office has changed locations several times but is now being kept in a large room in Lowell's building on North street.  From Feb. 1, 1882, to Feb. 1, 1883, the amount collected on goods sent out from this office was $1,058.21; amount collected on goods sent in, $1,682.71; collected on goods sent in, about $180.00, making a total of bill collected at this office, $2,910.92.
     The office does business on both the Scioto Valley and Ohio Southern roads.

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

     Waverly has about 1,700 inhabitants.  Two railroads and one canal pass through it, and it has several large manufacturing establishments.  It has six churches, one union school building, two newspapers, three hotels, two banks, five dry-goods stores, four general stores, five boot and shoe stores, nine groceries, three hardware stores, one furniture and undertaking store, one jewelry store, two confectionaries, three meat stores, one millinery store, one bakery, one cigar and tobacco store, one music store, eight saloons, two furniture factories, two flowering mills, three tanneries, one marble works, three carriage and wagon works, one saw-mill, one stone-mill, one woolen-mill, one distillery, one cooper shop, one bed-spring manufactory, two livery stables, one merchant tailor, one photograph gallery, one brick yard, four barber shops, one dress-maker, two blacksmith shops, one sewing machine agency, one Western Union telegraph, one Adams express, thirteen attorneys, eight physicians, one dentist, and two editors.

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.

     Pee Pee Township is the wealthiest in the county, and has also within its borders the countyseat, Waverly.  It is bounded on the north by Ross County; on the east by Jackson Township and teh Scioto River, which separates a part of it from Scioto River, which  separates a part of it from Seal Township; on the south by the river and  a small portion of Newton /Township, and on the west by Pebble Township.  There are six larger townships in the county and five smaller.  In area it has 18,694 acres, including the special school disrict and the corporation of Waverly.
     The valuation of personal property in 1880 was a total of $382,707.  In 1882 the real estate was assessed at $335,149; the special school district, $150,898; and the corporation, $383,415; personal property, $422,253; total, $1,291,715.
     The township, like the others which lie on the Scioto River, has her rich bottom lands, away from the river on the west it is hilly.  There is plenty of the celebrated Waverly sandstone within its limits and quarries have been opened and are yet worked at a profit.  It is well watered by Pee Pee Creek and its branches in the south and west, and Crooked creek flows from its northern border nearly south, passing within the corporate limits of Waverly, and empties into the Scioto south of that town.  It is a well watered, and in the west part and along its streams a well timbered, township.  The Scioto Valley Railroad and the Ohio Southern each pass through the township, the former running southwest some four miles and crossing the Scioto River within a mile of Waverly.  The latter comes in from the northwest and running southeast crosses the river over the same bridge.  One leads to Jackson and the other to Piketon and

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Portsmouth, Ohio.  The records of the township show little of historical note.  In the first records in March, 1834, the Trustees were: John Row, C. G. Crummit and Mesheck Downing.
     In 1839 the school tax for Pee Pee Township was placed at $342.38, and apportioned among three of the four districts: No. 1, $51.70; No. 2, $214.85, and No. 4, $75.83.  No. 3 was not mentioned.  The larger assessment referred to the Waverly district.  There are now six sub-districts outside of Waverly.  The growth of Pee Pee Township has been steady, if you include the city of Waverly.  Only one decade, between 1860 and 1870, that of the civil war, did the township out-grow the city.  This may be seen by the following comparison: Total township, including Waverly, 1880, 2,725, and as will be seen, the village is larger than the township.
     The population of the township, not including Waverly, has been as follows, by decades:  In 1840, 507; 1850, 643; 1860, 845; 1870, 1,118; 1880, 1,186.  City or village of Waverly: Population in 2850, 306; 1850, 678; 1860, 845; 1870, 1,118; 1880, 1,186.  City or village of Waverly: Population in 1840, 306; 1850, 678; 1860, 1,059; 1870, 1,202; 1880, 1,539. 

CHURCHES.

     German Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Prussia, in Pee Pee Township is located on the Ross County Road, three and one-half miles north of Waverly.  It was organized in 1845 by about twenty families.  The Rev. Kartex had been there and preached occasionally.  Charles Charto became their preacher when he came to Waverly, and since then they have been supplied.  The first place of worship was a log house standing on the site of their present new brick church, built in 1858.  The church is governed by a board of officers, elected annually, consisting of President, Treasurer and two Janitors.

     Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church is located on Long Branch, a tributary of Pee Pee Creek.  It was not really an organization, for none had been formed, but a number of the neighbors secured preaching when they could.  The first service was held at the house of John Lowry, and continued there at intervals until 1844.  A society was organized in the last named year by the Revs. Samuel Bateman and H. Westervelt.  Mr. Thornton Hasket was Class Leader.  Service was held alternately at Lowry's and Hasket's till 1848, and then at Nye's house.  One year was lost on account of inability to pay the preacher.  In 1849 Revs. David Smith and James T. Bail were called and the society reorganized, and John Windall was chosen Class-Leader, and at his house service was held.  In 1850 Revs. David Smith and Michael Sheets preached, and service was held at the house of Nancy Shoemaker.  In 1870 the society consisted of twenty-four members, and during that year some thirty more joined on probation.  In 1871 the old school-house was given up and service held at the new school-house, upon a previous arrangement with the school trustees.  In 1872 the Rev. J. M. Adams was the pastor, and the membership was fifty-three.  Unfortunately the new school-house was burned in 1873, and the society lost all their papers.  In arranging for the rebuilding of the school-house the society urged the school board to build of brick, and this the board.  This was done and the new brick school-house was erected in 1874, in time for the winter school.  In1876 it had sixty-five members, and in all these succeeding years its influence for good has grown and extended.  The promised report for the past five years has not come to hand.
     Much of Pee Pee Township history is included in the history of its capital town, Waverly.  The canal passes through its length from northeast to southwest, following the river except in its bends.  The port of Waverly has become quite important, but south of

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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