DELPHOS 1885

This village is favorably situated on the Miami and Erie Canal, above the confluence of that waterway and the Wabash and Erie Canal system. Here also is the center of the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway system, as well as the office of the main line of the Pennsylvania R.R. Flouring mills, lumber manufacturing establishments, banks, stores, churches, schools, hotels, railroad depots, canal freight house, lodge rooms, fire department buildings, livery stables, residences, are all here, many of the buildings claiming a commercial and architectural importance not excelled in Ohio. The telegraph system is an old institution, while the telephone, in all its shapes, is found here. In a word, many of the luxuries and all the conveniences which modern times suggest have been adopted by the citizens.

The people of Delphos have always paid much attention to educational matters. From pioneer times down to present day, the school has formed a subject for their serious inquiry. A love of educational advancement forms one of the leading characteristics of the citizens. The school has been always fostered by them. It has been raised up from very humble beginnings, until now the system of both common and denominational schools here has won high encomiums from all conversant with it. The churches, too, serve to form an index to character. The buildings devoted to religious purposes are all substantial. In one instance, the Catholic Church, a building has been raised which ranks with the greatest church edifices in the Union. The literary, musical and benevolent societies are all well conducted, and the newspapers will edited.

It has been stated, with some show of authority, that Delphos could not have been settled without the aid of quinine. The air was so poisoned with malarial effluvia from swamps and marshes, that not only the pioneers, but also the very dogs of the settlement, suffered intensely from fever and ague. Quinine was the sine qua non of life even up to the period when the location lost its name of Section Ten.

The cholera epidemic entered Delphos in August, 1854. In September, Mrs. S. E. Brown and others, were swept away by this dreadful disease; nor did it cease it ravages this year. In 1855 Mr. Heitz and others were carried away.

The Miami & Erie Canal was opened in 1845. Ten years later the link in the Pennsylvania R. R., or the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. was in operation. The formal opening of the Toledo, Delphos & Indianapolis R. R. took place July 4, 1875, while yet only eight miles of the road was completed. The train was made up of eight cars drawn by a 12 ton engine. The Delphos & Kokomo Narrow Gauge R. R., built in 1877; the Delphos, Bluffton & Franklin R. R.; Toledo, Franklin & St. Louis R. R.; Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis R. R., Dayton, Covington & Toledo R. R.; Cincinnati & Northern R. R.; Dayton & S. W. R. R.; Toledo and Grand Rapids R. R., and Toledo & Maumee R. R., form what is now known as the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis R. R. system, embracing about 700 miles of three feet gauge track. The Ramsey Transfer is operated throughout the system. The railroad shops, built by the Consolidated Company at Delphos, toward the construction of which Delphos granted ten acres of land and a bonus of $30,000, were erected under the supervision of Robert Martin, of Delphos.

John O. Bredeick platted the original town east of the county line in 1845. Ferd. Bredeick platted a tract on the west side in 1845, and the two towns, as surveyed by Elias Everett, were known as East and West Bredeick. The Hollister, Bliss and Pettit Addition, known as Section Ten, and next the village of Howard, platted for Samuel Forrer, followed close upon the enterprise of Bredeick’s. Ferdinand Bredeick erected the first house on the village site, and the first frame house was erected by Henry Menckhans; Capt. McCune built the first brick house. In 1845, E. N. Morton built the first saw mill, and in 1847 he erected the first grist-mill. Miss Amelia Bredeick, now Mrs. Geo. Lang, was the first white child born in the town.

The physicians of Delphos: Osborn, Metcalf, Pennington, Butler, H. P. Wagner, who came in 1847; C. A. Evans, in 1850; Davenport, Joseph Burkholder, Reul, in 1850; J. R. Evans, 1869; Steman, G. H. Williamson, 1878; F. H. Schlink, 1879; and S. F. Conkling. Mr. Hunt was a chemist and druggist here for many years, a most enterprising citizen.

The first election for Delphos Village under the Act of Incorporation February 7, 1851, took place March 3 of that year. Mayor was Lester Bliss, Recorder was Smith Talbott, Councilmen were N. White, E. N. Martin, J. P. Cowan, J. P. Murphy, and T. Wrocklage. Treas. F. J. Lye and Marshal E. N. Talbott were elected March 21, 1851.

The Postmasters of Delphos were Amos Clutter, the first master, who had a little office on the west side of the canal. He was succeeded by Andrew Linn, who served until May, 1853, when Winchton Risley was appointed. On his death, in September, 1854, his wife, Mrs. Mary Risley was appointed, and she held the office until September, 1879. J. H. Cowdin, the present postmaster, was commissioned in September, 1879. The office is still recognized as in Van Wert County.

Churches: Catholic Church. - The history of the church is identified with that of the settlement and progress of this division of the county. From printed and written reminiscences it appears that in December, 1845, thirty-six male members of the Catholic Church met in a log cabin and drew up ten articles of agreement, providing that each inhabitant of section 10, who wished to be a member of the Catholic congregation, should work twenty-five days every year, during the time a church building would be constructing, without pay or the expectation of pay; all those who could not or did not wish to work should pay $8 annually toward the work. At the beginning of each week the persons who volunteered to work were notified by the Trustees. Father Bredeick came to give the work some plan. About the middle of January, 1846, J. M. Heitz, in contract with the Trustees, entered on work; large trees were formed as pillars, then the smaller timbers had to be hewed out, and then the hand made oak shingles, the latter at the pastor’s expense. In 1850 the old church was only partially completed; but not until November 1, 1853, were the first services celebrated therein. In 1855 the master mechanic of this great pioneer building died of cholera. In 1855 the building was closed on all sides; in 1856 the main altar and pews were made; in 1862 the steeple, 150 feet high, was built. Father Bredeick died August 19, 1858. There were eighty nine different contributors of money and labor from 1846 to 1852. Each laborer gave 123 days, and each subscriber $54.54. On March 31, 1879, the last services were held in the old church. A hall 110 feet long and 56 wide accommodated the people until the opening of the new church. Rev. Father Long, in his history of the Catholic Church of Delphos, written in 1875, says: "The first church established at Delphos was the Catholic, and its honored founder, Rev. John O. Bredeick, was the benevolent guardian of the spiritual and material interests of the German settlers, who were pioneers in the inhospitable forests of Northwestern Ohio. In co-operation with Rev. Mr. Horseman, of Glandorf, who had preceded Mr. Bredeick, they planted firmly the institutions of Christianity and civilization. His church here was an ungainly one in architectural appearance, but yet of huge dimensions. No one except Father Bredeick could then foresee that the Catholic Church going people would be sufficient to fill that edifice during a period of a generation or two at least. The good priest struggled to complete his temple of worship, but did not live to witness the realization of his hopes, having passed to his reward in the future world in 1858. He has only had two successors, Rev. F. Westerholt, and the zealous and untiring one, who now officiates, Rev. A. J. Hoeffel, whose priestly services were rendered for many years at Defiance, Ohio. As evidence that Father Bredeick had not underestimated the future wants of his people, it is only necessary to state that over 300 families now worship in that church, equivalent to nearly 1,500 persons.

The project of building a new church took practical shape in 1878. Plans by S. W. Lane, of Cleveland, were adopted by the building committee and councilmen. Contracts were awarded to Warner & Son for stone foundation; Francis H. Heitz, woodwork; S. J. Burkhart, Kenton brick and sawed stone; Joseph Derwort, tin, iron and copper; Hull & Congers, roofing and slating, and Mr. Goeckinger, woodwork on spire. On September 1, 1878, Mr. Heitz measured the ground, then the foundations were excavated, and on June 15, 1879, the corner stone was laid by Bishop Gilmore, assisted by Rev. Father Hoeffel, Rev. J. F. Lang, and other ecclesiastics. The building was completed in 1880, and dedicated January 16, 1881, at a cost of about $60,000, equivalent, with gratuitous labor and material, to over $100,000. The length of the building is 192 feet; width of main aisle, 78 feet; width of transepts, 100 feet; height to apex roof, 84 feet; height of tower, 222 feet; height of middle arch, 58 feet. The roof is divided into over 100 arches, after the pure Gothic Style. The tower clock cost about $2,000. The bells used are those of the old church - a chime of three bells purchased in 1863-64.

Methodist Episcopal Church: Was organized at the cabin of R. M. Pedicord, West Delphos, in 1846, with William Scott, John Miller, and wife, and R. M. Pedicord and wife. Services were held at the houses of Pedicord and Miller, subsequently in Amos Metcalf’s cooper shop, and in 1848, in the woolen factor, erected by E. N. Martin that year. In 1850-51 a church building was erected on a lot donated by Samuel Pettit, of Piqua, a friend of E. N. Martin. After this building was in use for a quarter of a century, the idea of erecting a substantial house of worship, was entertained. The ladies soon inaugurated a means of making the idea practical, and by social meetings, and church fairs, they collected no less than $2,300 within the three years ending in December, 1878. In spring of 1879, those ladies collected from the citizens about $2,600, and with the two sums as the nucleus of a building fund, they embarked in the work of church building. A contract was sold to James H. Clime to build a house of worship according to plans by T. J. Tolan & Son, of Ft. Wayne. Work was commenced in August, 1879, and the building completed in March, 1880, under the supervision of Dr. H. P. Wagner.

The Presbyterian Church of Delphos: Was formally organized in 1849, and completed organization in 1851. The lot on which the church building stands (No 47), was donated by Rev. Father Bredeick to the Presbyterian Society in August, 1858, as a transfer from the Board of Education under the Legislative Act of March 14, 1859. The present church was erected in 1869 at a cost of over $6,000.

United Brethren (Marion Church): This church, belonging to the Elida United Brethren Circuit, comes down from the pioneer days of this portion of Allen County. The original members were S. P. Steman and wife, Samuel Moyer and wife, Mary M. Sherrick, Catherine Seitz, Sarah Long, Mary Parker, Jacob Clapper, Cyrus Conrad, H. J. Sherrick, John Ridenour, J. B. Cottner, Caroline Cottner. The membership is eighty.

Schools: The Union School Building on the west side was erected in 1869 at a cost of $30,000. A still larger building is now considered necessary for the east side. Owing to the existence of the Catholic schools at Delphos, little interest was taken in the common school system until 1867-68. This is proven by the fact that the School District failed to profit by a donation of land in 1852, and continued this carelessness for many years after, so that lot No. 47, donated in 1852 to the Board of Education by Rev. Father Bredeick of the Catholic Church, and by him to the Presbyterian Society in 1858, under legislative authority given in the Act of March 14, 1859.

Societies, etc: Hope Lodge No. 214 A. F. & A. M., was chartered October 28, 1851. In 1872, while the lodge was in the third story of Shenk & Lang’s Block the building was destroyed, and with it the records of the lodge. The lodge was reorganized under new charter October 16, 1873 and now claims sixty eight members.

Delphos Chapter No. 105 R. A. M. was chartered in October 17, 1868, with H. P. Wagner, C. C. Marshall, S. D. Chambers, J. C. Scott, H. D. Clark, S. F. Conkling, Alfred Tannehill, W. D. Jones and C. A. Evans original members.

Okonoxy Lodge, I. O. O. F., No 201, was chartered May 16, 1854, with William Crist, D. Minnig, E. King, Sam Stuter and G. W. Krutsch members.

Marion Encampment, No 61 I. O. O. F., when first instituted, met at Delphos, March 30, 1854, William Crist, Hollis Fisher, J. R. Murphy, L. B. Wolson, Charles McCune, C. H. Hover and others were members of this camp.

Frederika Lodge, No 147, Daughters of Rebekah, was chartered May 17, 1883, with Catherine J. Foster, Celia Pegdon, Sara J. Eiche, Frederika King, Anna C. Voltz, Catherine Daniels, Adeline Blake, George W. Louthan, Eleanor Louthan, S. W. Murphy, C. S. Davis, William Crist, James Pegdon, Mary Young and J. W. Evans. Mrs. Catherine Daniels is Noble Grand. The number of members is twenty-five.

Royal Arcanum was organized November 13, 1878. Dr. H. P. Wagner was elected P. R. The membership is seventy-three.

Reul Post, No. 95, G. A. R., named after Capt. Reul, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, who died at Delphos after the war, was organized July 12, 1881, with the following charter members. J. H. Cowdin, S. L. Feeley, F. Rouschart, Moses Strauss, A. Lichttentner, N. Lichttentner, Oscar Wilson, William Devlin, D. J. Davis, M. K. Blinn, J. F. Himmelright, P. F. Henry, Almond Ruggles, Oscar Enslen, William Wier and John Siedell. The first Commander was D. J. Davis.

Knights of Pythias Lodge, No 139, was chartered May 24, 1882, with thirty-nine members.

Division No. 21, Sons of Temperance, was chartered March 31, 1880, with twenty-seven members.

Knights of Honor, Edith Lodge, No 1,787, was organized September 20, 1879, with forty charter members. The presiding officers since organization are Frank Welsh, Benjamin Fisher, S. L. Feeley, Aug. Boehmer, C. F. Harter, and J. Pohlman.

Delphos Fire Department was organized under the name of Washington Volunteer Fire Company, July 1, 1872. Of the original members only one, J. H. Wahmhoff, is now connected with the volunteer department. The prizes carried off by this company are named as follows: Ohio State Banner, at Gallion, Ohio, in 1873; Northwestern Ohio State Banner, at Van Wert, Ohio 1874; a trumpet at Lima, Ohio, 1876; a trumpet at Van Wert, Ohio 1877; a trumpet at Delphos, Ohio 1882; a United States flag at Delphos, Ohio, 1882; a money prize at Northwestern Ohio tournament, held at St. Mary’s, Ohio, 1883, and a money prize at Sandusky, Ohio in 1884. The equipment comprises two steam engines, a pony hand engine, one hook and ladder and 2,200 feet of hose on four carts.

The J. W. Feely Hook and Ladder Company was organized under the name of Star Company, was subsequently named the Independent Star Hook and Ladder Company, in August 1880, to the Star Hook and Ladder Company, and August 3, 1882, to the J. W. Feely Hook and Ladder Company. There are thirty five members who pay their own expenses, the village paying for repairs.

The Delphos Band, known as the Citizen’s Band, was organized September 25, 1882, with John White, leader. There are fifteen members.

The Schiller Association was organized in 1859, by Antoine Jettinger.

Industries, Banks & etc.: The industry know as the curing of Slippery Elm bark was founded at Delphos in 1855, by Dr. J. W. Hunt. The trade in this bark may be said to have its headquarters at Delphos for many years. Ten years previous to this time Theodore Wrocklage and B. Esch established a potash and pearl-ash factory.

The Empire Excelsior Works, established by Charles Whittier, was purchased in 1873 by August Boehmer, who has been operator of them for the last eleven years. The factory gives employment to eight men. The machinery is valued at about $3,500. The capacity is about 1,000 tons per annum. The principal market is at Cincinnati.

The Delphos Chemical Works, manufactures of pearl-ash, was established in 1871, by Ishmael Malick. In 1872 the works were purchased by J. & T. Rice. The product, since the decrease in price, has not exceeded ten tons annually. The price is 3 cents per pound.

The Delphos Elevator, built by W. F. Mills & Co., in 1879, has capacity of 30,000 bushels. The original building was erected by Curtis & Bliss, about thirty years ago, on Canal Street and Pennsylvania Railroad. The Narrow Gauge Railroad runs a track along the west side.

In 1870 a hub and spoke factory was established on the side of the canal, by A. B. Risk and M. A. Ferguson. This industry was carried on where the Moennig hardware store now stands, until consolidated with the Ohio Wheel Company in 1872.

The Ohio Wheel Company, founded at Toledo in 1868, moved to Delphos in 1872. The Company was incorporated October 20, 1871. At their Toledo works, buildings and machinery were valued at $40,000. The buildings were erected in 1871-72, and opened in the fall of 1872. The estimated cost of buildings, $20,000 and machinery $45,000. The number of hands employed in January, 1873, was 32, the number at present, 80. The value of annual products is about $120,000 and payroll is about $3,000.

The Union Flouring-Mill Company was organized under State Law in 1872. In 1880 the name was changed to the Eagle Mills. Eagle Mills was purchased in July, 1880, by Alex Shenk and George F. Lang, who have conducted this industry down to the present time. The capacity is estimated at 125 barrels per day, annual product is 25,000 barrels. The number of hands employed is ten.

Delphos Flouring-Mills, built in 1847 by E. N. Morton, were purchased in 1856 by Abram Miller, J. Shotwell and T. F. Conklin; purchased by Cooper & Conklin, again in 1858 by Miller & Shotwell.

Pittsburg Hoop & Stave Company was established in 1872, with C. Meyran, president. The value of annual product is about $80,000; the number of men employed, 30.

The Stave Company, one of the great industries of Delphos, was organized in 1869, with J. M. C. Marble, Theo Wrocklage, John Ostendorf and H. J. Trame, incorporators.

Delphos Handle Factory was established in 1872, by the Hartwell Brothers.

What has been said by Mr. Sutton in 1882 is doubly applicable today. He states: Within a radius of four miles of Delphos there are over thirty mills constantly employed in cutting and preparing lumber for market. Immense quantities of lumber are annually conveyed to market by the railroads and canal. The enterprise and growth of Delphos can be seen by the following list of business establishments: two steam saw mills, two grist mills, one paper mill, one woolen mill, one machine shop and foundry, one stirrup factory, two planing mills, one handle factory, one excelsior works, one union stave factory, one hoop and stave factory, one Washington stave factory, one tight barrel factory, one wheel factory, two brick yards, four livery stables, four hardware stores, four stove and tin stores, nine dry goods stores, four millinery establishments, four drug stores, twelve grocery and provision stores, thirty saloons, four butcher shops, three jewelry stores, two harness shops, two undertaking establishments, three furniture stores, four wagon shops, six blacksmith shops, six boot and shoe shops, seven baker shops, one tannery, one brewery, two banks, two newspapers, two warehouses, three elevators, six hotels, two public halls, one steam fire engine, two hand engines, hose carts, etc.

First National Bank was founded by L. G. Roebuck, F. J. Lye, J. M. C. Marble, T. Wrocklage, Peter Phelan, R. K. Lytle, H. J. Boehmer, B. Esch, F. H. Stallkamp and Henry D. Clark, February 16, 1863, with L. G. Roebuck, president and J. M. C. Marble, cashier. The capital stock was placed at $100,000. On February 26, 1883, the bank was reorganized under the name Delphos National Bank, with Theo Wrocklage, president and Joseph Boehmer, cashier. The capital stock is $60,000 and surplus $8,000.

The Commercial Bank of Delphos was chartered under the Legislative act of February 26, 1853. It was organized as a State Bank in 1877, and in 1880 the capital stock of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000.

The Fidelity Fire Insurance Company of Delphos was organized in August, 1875.

The Phelan House, built in 1880 by J. F. McShane, has been carried on by John Roby since April 25, 1881. This is one of the best hotels in northwestern Ohio.

The Rose House was built in 1881 by A. B. Risk. This house is located on the P. F. W. & C. R. R., just west of the Union depot. It has been variously conducted.

Miscellaneous: The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad passed through Marion Township from southeast to northwest; the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railroad touches the most northwesterly sections on its way from Delphos into Putnam County, and the Toledo, Delphos & Indianapolis Railroad runs due north and south. The post offices are Delphos, Landeck and Scott’s Crossing.

Information from History of Allen County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co. 1885

Submitter Ronald Kunz at rkunz@woh.rr.com

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