DELPHOS HISTORY 1906

The city of Delphos or "Section Ten," as it was formerly called, is located in the counties of Allen and Van Wert, the Miami and Erie Canal forming the dividing line. In 1828 the United States government gave to the State of Ohio, on condition that it would build a canal from Dayton to Defiance on the Auglaize River, all the even-numbered sections of land along the proposed route. Under the direction of Samuel Forver, three different routes were surveyed, one along the Auglaize, the one adopted, and one three miles west of the one adopted. The present location was agreed upon after some difficulty and immediately there was a rush for lands. Some of the early pioneers were Josiah Clawson, Judge Cochran, William Scott, John McGill and Benjamin Cochran. From the German settlement near old Fort Jennings came Ferdinand Bredeick who purchased land for himself and also for his brother, John Otto Bredeick, who was yet in the fatherland. Theodore Wrocklage, Bernard Esch, Conrad Loudeck, Casper Geise, Mathias Schroeder, George Wilte, Conrad Wellman, Henry Lanse, Henry Schroeder, Caspar Mesker, Caspar Luesmann, C. D. Geise, M. Hemker, F. Reinemeyer, John Grothaus, D. Kariman, H. Linderman and Mrs. Osenbach were early settlers in the northwest part of Marion township.

The first road through Delphos was opened by William Scott and William Brady and passed through the "Ten Mile Woods" as it was then called. Between Scott's farm and Van Wert there was not then a single dwelling

Ferdinand Bredeick laid out the portion of the town which was known as "West Bredeick," in 1845, and in the same year his brother, Rev. John Otto Bredeick, platted East Bredeick. Following these, plats belonging to Hollister and Samuel Forver were surveyed and the former given the name "Section Ten" and the latter the name "Howard." The first meeting to consider the advisability of consolidating the villages into one, and giving it a name was in 1850, at which time the contention for naming the town ensued, the owner of each tract wanting it to bear the name of his division. It was finally agreed to adopt the name "Delphos," which was proposed by Father Bredeick in remembrance of Delphos in Greece, which he had visited during his travels in that country.

Father Bredeick played an important part in the early history of the town. He came direct from the Kingdom of Hanover and upon his arrival here his first care was the spiritual welfare of his flock. In 1844 he erected at his own expense a one-and-a-half story log house, which served as a chapel and also as a residence for himself. Later, in 1846, the log chapel was enlarged and used temporarily for a church, also serving as the first school house, a Mr. Minkhouse being the teacher. He gave newcomers every possible encouragement, selling land very low and giving purchasers their own time to pay for it. Before his death he donated much land to different persons for city use, giving with the rest a number of lots for a park site and to the Presbyterians a lot on Jefferson street, which was afterwards exchanged for the lot on which the Presbyterian Church now stands, allowing the Protestants still to retain the original lot for the schoolhouse. At his death he willed lot No. 74 and 10 acres in section 30 to the Sisters of Charity, and bequeathing the remainder of his estate to the Catholic Church.

The growth of Delphos was very rapid until the year 1854, when it was visited by the cholera which nearly depopulated it. When the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railway was built in 1854, the town gradually resumed its former enterprise and prosperity.

The first house built in Section Ten stood on the canal bank just south of Second street in Van Wert County. In this house the first Catholic religious services were held and in it the first white child of the town, Amelia Bredeick (now Mrs. George F. Lang) was born. The altar used for church purposes was an old bureau, which is a valued possession of Mrs. Lang and which was exhibited at the Catholic Church Jubilee, the 50th anniversary, which was celebrated September 12, 1894.

The first election for Delphos took place March 3, 1851, with the following election of officers: Lester Bliss, mayor; Smith Talbot, recorder; N. White, J. P. Cowan, J. P. Murphy and T. Wrocklage, councilmen.

When it is considered that the town was located in the midst of such a dense forest, and that communication east and west was over roads where the timber had been scarcely cut, its growth from 1845 to 1854 seems remarkable. At this early date all the provisions and merchandise were brought from Piqua. Some of the settlers would start from Delphos on Sunday evening to purchase supplies and would occupy a week in making the trip of 85 miles. In 1846 F. J. Lye and family came here from Tiffin in a wagon as far as the Auglaize, where they were rowed across the river with their household goods, continuing their journey to Delphos over what was known as the corduroy road. They drove to within a few feet of Main street where the wagon became fast in the mud and the family were carried one by one to a little hut directly back of where the City Building now stands. A family by the name of Daub was in possession of it, but all lived together until a dwelling place was built for the Lyes. In 1843 the contract was let for digging the Miami and Erie Canal. The place was completely covered with woods, the only places of shelter being the canal shanties. The first canal-boat to pass through Delphos was the "Marshall," owned by Kirk, Lawton & Company, of Piqua, and was freighted with peltries and hides for Toledo. This was on the 4th of July, 1845. The first passenger packet arrived here from Toledo in 1846, bringing Governor-elect Bebb this far on his trip east. The people turned out to meet him en masse, going as far as the stone lock, one mile north of town, and taking a number of extra horses with them to attach to the boat in order that they might bring this their first passenger packet into town in good style, as well as show attention and honor to their prospective Governor.

It has been stated that Delphos could not have been settled without the aid of whiskey and quinine. The air was so poisoned with malarial effluvia from the swamps and marshes, that not only the pioneers but the dogs of the settlement suffered intensely with fever and ague. Quinine was in general use up to the period when the location lost its name of "Section Ten."

In 1845 Father Bredeick opened up the first general store, which was followed in the same year by the firm of Gilmore & Scott, Esch & Wrocklage and White & Newton.

Bope & Ley started a store in 1846, corner of Main and Second streets. In the same year Hollister & Bliss opened up a large establishment in a building on the lot now occupied by Kundert Brothers' livery barn and there the boats stopped to load and unload, that of course being the central point of interest at that time.

Churches.—The Church of St. John the Evangelist, generally known as St. John's Catholic Church, had its beginning, in 1844, through the self-sacrifice and pious zeal of Rev. John Otto Bredeick. The one-and-a-half story log house he built at his own expense in this year served at first as a chapel and also as a residence for himself. Two years later the chapel was enlarged and was used temporarily as a church, serving also as the town's first schoolhouse. This building, which stood on the site of Roth's meat market on Main street, was destroyed in 1872 by the conflagration of that year, which swept away so many old landmarks in Delphos.

From 1844 to 1855 Father Bredeick served the congregation absolutely without salary, and from the latter year to his lamented death, which occurred in August, 1858, took only $150 a year.

In December, 1845, a meeting of the male members of the Catholic congregation was held and a constitution of 10 articles was drawn up by which every Catholic inhabitant of Section Ten was bound to work 25 days each year on the new church or contribute $8 annually until the completion of the building. This church was finished far enough to admit of holding services in it in 1854 and the first regular sermon preached there was on All Saints' Day, November 1st of that year.

In 1858 Rev. F. Westerholt succeeded Father Bredeick. He was later called to Cleveland and until the appointment of Rev. Aloysius I. Hoeffel, Father Maesfranc of Landeck officiated, Father Hoeffel taking charge February 2, 1868.

In 1867-68 a residence for the Sisters of St. Francis was built at a cost of $7,000. Between 1869 and 1872 a new residence for the Sisters and a three-story brick school were built. The church and these barely escaped destruction in the conflagration of 1872.

In the year 1878 the project of building a new Catholic Church took shape and an edifice which ranks with the greatest church buildings in the Union was the result. On June 15, 1879, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Gilmore, assisted by Revs. A. I. Hoeffel, J. F. Lang and other ecclesiastics. Tile building was completed in 1880 and dedicated January 16, 1881, at a cost of $60,000 and the gratuitous labor and material, which amounted to something like $40,000. The length of the structure is 192 feet; width of nave, 78 feet; width of transept, 100 feet; height to apex of 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 seating capacity is 1,600. The tower clock cost about $2,000.

In 1894 the three bells now in use were presented to the church by Father Hoeffel. These bells bear the names of the three priests who have given earnest service to this church— Fathers Bredeick, Westerholt and Hoeffel.

In 1889 a new Sisters' school was built at a cost of $11,000. The church which has now a membership of 400 families, continues to be in charge of Father Hoeffel, under whose guidance for the past 37 years its material and spiritual growth has been remarkable.

The Presbyterian Church was organized in May, 1851, by Rev. Graham. The meeting was held in a building that fronted on the canal just south of the middle bridge, where the Commercial Bank now stands. They organized at the same time a Union Sunday-school. One year later Rev. Elcock was sent here to preach, and was paid partly by the presbytery and partly by the congregation. The places of worship in early days were various. There are some who can remember going to school and attending church in a small one-story brick building on the lot now owned and occupied by Dr. Mauk as a residence. The upper story of the old woolen mill just west of the Courant office was used for the same purpose.

Prayer meetings were held at the residence of different members. Mr. Forver, the surveyor of the canal, presented the Presbyterian congregation with the lot now occupied by the Redisbo family, directly west of Dr. Mauk's residence on Fourth street; this lot with the original one donated by Father Bredeick was sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of the present lot. The Presbyterian Church was dedicated February 8, 1869. Rev. A. O. Raber is the present pastor.

Methodist Episcopal services were held first in the cabin of R. M. Pitticord on the west side of the canal. There were present five members, the minister officiating was Rev. Graham. A Sunday-school was organized and John Miller elected superintendent. This was in 1846 The services were continued from time to time at the home of John Miller, corner of Main and Third streets, and later at a cooper shop owned by Amos Metcalf, and located on the rear part of the lot now known as the Deubler property, on East Third street. In 1848 E. N. Martin moved to Section Ten from Piqua. He was an ordained minister, and this with his means and liberality gave the organization the position of a church. Steps were soon taken to build a church, and until this was accomplished, services were held in the upper room of a building erected by Mr. Martin as a woolen mill. In 1848 Rev. Harmount was sent as preacher in charge of the circuit. In 1850 the foundation was laid for a church on a lot donated by Samuel Pettit, of Piqua, and completed in 1851. The present church was commenced in August, 1879, and completed in 1880. The present membership of this church is 400. The congregation is united and prosperous, owing largely to the untiring efforts of their talented young pastor, Rev. Ascham, who was given leave of absence in September, 1905, to pursue his studies at Harvard. Rev. J. B. Gottschall was appointed to fill Rev. Ascham's pulpit.

The United Brethren Church has Rev. W. H. Kindel as pastor; the German Reformed Church, Rev. J. J. Neiss.

Railroads.—In 1854 the Ohio & Indiana Railroad, now called the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, was opened from Crestline to Fort Wayne. The first railroad engine used on this line was named "Lima" and was brought from Toledo to Delphos on a canal-boat by Casper Smith and put on the track here for construction work. Woolson & McCune took the contract for bringing the iron to Delphos. Captain Fisher, Sr., bought a boat in Toledo named "Seneca Chief" and McClure owned a boat named "Damsel," and these two boats brought the iron to Delphos. Captain Fisher took the contract to build a basin just west of Mills' elevator for the purpose of anchoring these boats while they unloaded the railroad supplies. On July 4, 1875, the formal opening of the Toledo, Delphos & Burlington took place. In 1876 was the big excursion to Dupont, and in 1878 the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway was completed. The Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis (now the Northern Ohio) was built in 1881.

The Press.—The first newspaper was issue in 1849 by the late Judge Ben Metcalf and called the Section Ten Budget. It existed about one year. This was followed by the Delphos Oracle edited by Noah Huber, who was succeeded by O. H. Perry, then by Bell, who published it until 1854, when it expired. In the same year came the Northwestern Republican, S. E. Brown, editor. This lived a little more than a year. From this date until 1869 there was no paper. Then the Herald made its appearance with D. H. Tolan as editor and later with his son, C. M. Tolan. At present Gasson & Sevitz are publishing the paper with a circulation of 800 copies. The Courant was established in 1877 with E. B. Walkup as editor and is still owned and published by him with a circulation of 1,400 a week.

The Kleeblatt, published by C. Jettinghoff, the only German newspaper published in Delphos, was established in December, 1889, and has a circulation of more than 1,000 copies.

Schools.—The Delphos schools up to 1859 had been kept up in each county divided by the canal, and separate schools were sustained and examinations given on the same principle as all country schools. On January 29th after legal notice, the voters of these two districts met at the little old frame schoolhouse on the Allen County side and voted to organize the Delphos Union School District, under the general law governing village districts, the first Board of Education under the law consisting of Charles C. Marshall, F. J. Lye, H. Weible, Lester Bliss, M. Brickner and S. F. Conklin. Charles C. Marshall was the first president of the board. At the time of this organization of the Delphos Union School District, C. P. Washburn was teaching the highest grade of the public schools. On April 8, 1868, the district voted to levy a tax and issue bonds for the erection of a new schoolhouse. The schools remained in this scattered condition until August 5, 1869, when W. H. Wolfe was elected superintendent and schools were organized and graded in the new building. In 1870 J. F. Jones was elected to the superintendency and in 1871 W. H. Wolfe was reelected. In 1873 E. W. Hastings was employed and held the position for 25 years, until 1898, when he resigned on account of ill health and died the following year. In 1877 C. P. Washburn was elected clerk of the Board of Education and held the position for 22 years.

Mr. Hastings was loved and revered by the entire population. He was succeeded by G. W. Lewis, who after two years' work was followed by T. W. Shimp.

The teachers in the Delphos Union School District (Allen and Van Wert counties) in 1904-05 were: T. W. Shimp, superintendent; J. E. Fast, J. T. Omlor, J. I. Miller, Anna Welsh, Ella Peltier, Carrie Anderson, Mary Walkup, Rose T. Lindemann, Callie Huysman, Bertha Weiss, Mellie McMahon, Margie McMahon, Ethel Hart, Lulu Walkup, Wilma Clay, Grace Boardman, Ameda Davis, Doris Eysenbach, Amedius Laudick and Inez Bladwin.

Hotels.—The first hotel called "Traveler's Rest" was opened in 1845 and was kept by a man named Savage. It stood on the corner of Canal and Second streets where the Opera House now stands. Joseph Ostendorf came to Delphos in April 1847, coming by boat from Minster and landing here about 3 o'clock in the morning. After the boat moved out, he looked around him for some place to lodge. The weather was cold and it was intensely dark, so dark that he was afraid to step off the platform for fear of getting lost in the mud. Not being able to see a ray of light in any direction, he concluded to walk the platform until daybreak. At dawn he saw a high bridge on the south and started for it, keeping to the heel-path. After crossing the bridge, the "Traveler's Rest" came into view, and here just half a century ago he took his first breakfast in Section Ten.

The second hotel was built in 1845 and was called the "Ohio House." In 1846 the American House was built on the corner of Main and Fourth where the Shaffer Block now stands. The Union or Hecker House, as it was called later, was built in 1848. The Commercial House was built in 1847 and kept by C. Ross and later by W. D. Jones, who is now running the New Aveline in Fort Wayne. The Burnett was built in 1855 by Henry Brown, familiarly called "Uncle Henry" Brown. The first proprietor was Col. Amos Evans, who was succeeded by Oliver P. Brown. Brown sold out to T. Webb, who was succeeded by John Roby, who had charged of it until 1880 when he went into the Phelan House. The Phelan House is now the best hotel in Delphos.

Postoffice.— In 1847 the first postoffice in Section Ten was established in a small room built on the platform of the lock, between the gates, on the Van Wert Coujnty side, with Mr. Clutter as postmaster. At that time there were no postage stamps, the postage being paid either by the sender and the letter marked "Paid," or the letter was marked "Due" and the receiver paid the postage. In 1849 Lynn succeeded Clutter, holding the office for three years, and then began a postoffice war and in May, 1853, Winchton Risley was appointed postmaster. He held the office (removing it to Allen County) until his death in September, 1854, after which Mr. Mary Risley was appointed and held the office for 25 consecutive years. Then followed Cowdin, Shenk, Baxter, Washburn and Weger, the present incumbent.

The pioneer physicians were Osborne, Metcalf, Conklin, Butler, Pennington and H. P. Wagner, who came in 1847; and C. A Evans, Davenport, Burkholder and Ruel, who came in 1850. Joseph Hunt was for a number of years called "Doctor" Hunt. He was a leading chemist and druggist and also a prominent citizen. In 1855 when business was suffering from stagnation, Mr. Hunt conceived the idea that he might aid the pioneers of the wilderness and add to his own trade by offering to purchased the bark from slippery elm trees which were abundant in the swamps. The supply soon reached hundreds of cords of cured bark and brought him quite a revenue.

Early Indurtries.— The ashery was another branch of industry, established in 1849, extensively carried on in the early days. Wrocklage & Esch were the first proprietors, and later Wrocklage & Stallkamp. Every particle of ashes was carefully horded by settlers and sold for 10 cents a bushel to the ashery, where it was converted into pearl ash and shipped to all parts of the country. It was sold in a crude state to be used in the manufacture of baking soda

Delphos was the possessor of a dry dock in 1846, built by Father Bredeick. It was handled by John Daub and B. Nate. They built the boat "M. King," but found it too heavy for the canal and converted it into a barge to be used on the Ohio River.

The First Undertaker.— David Minnig, the first undertaker, came to Delphos in 1851, started the business in partnership with Mr. Garfield in 1852 in the old Lytle warehouse, corner Main and Third streets, where the Commercial Bank now stands. Garfield died in 1854 and Minnig carried on the business until 1866. The first hearse was a common spring wagon with curtains hung on the sides. The first regular hearse was built in 1854. In 1866 this was put away and a more modern conveyance presented to the people of Delphos. Mrs. Thomas Chambers made the majority of shrouds for the dead for at least 10 years. Not only making them, indeed, but dressing and laying out the persons for who they were made.

Industries.— Delpnos is splendidly located industrially. It is on four lines of steam railways — the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City and Northern Ohio, beside being on one of the best traction lines in the country, — The Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima. The most important industrial plant in Delphos is the Delphos Can Company, manufacturing the non-overflow pump can which is sold all over the United States, Canada and South America. This company was organized with Delphos capital in 1898 but, owing to infringements of patents of other manufacturing concerns, business was at a standstill till H. L. Leilich became manager. At a cost of $14,000 he prosecuted infringements of patents in the United States courts and gained favorable decisions. Under the same management, the plant has since expanded, now employing 125 hands and having a monthly output valued at $22,000. A large addition is contemplated as the supply has never equaled the demand. The George F. Lang Milling Company, with a capacity of 125 barrels per day, and the Delphos Roller Mills, owned by Dalby & Morton, with a capacity of 100 barrels, are giving employment to a large number of men. The latter mill was established in 1846, the first mill in this section of Ohio and was the market for wheat from a section of country extending to Findlay and St. Marys. The following are some of the industries contributing to the wealth of Delphos; Delphos Paper Mill, the furniture manufactory of Ricker & Sons, Gun Novelty Company, Felix Steinle Brewing Company, the cement blocks works of Eger & Enslen and of A. L. Fisher and the lumber yards of Richer & Sons and J. F. Horine & Sons.

The stores are especially good for a town of its size. The drug store of King Brothers is one of the finest drug stores in the State of Ohio. F. H. King is a member of the Ohio State Pharmacy Board. Among the new projects is the Delphos Foundry Company, which has erected an immense building and fitted it with new machinery for the manufacture of furnaces, stoves and registers.

Physicians, Dentist and Attorneys.— -The town has 13 physicians. The oldest doctor in Delphos in point of continued service is Dr. Charles C. Bliss, who graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1874. He practiced medicine in Delphos until two years ago when he gave up his practice for the office of mayor to which he was elected. Dr. H. C. Bradshaw has practiced in Delphos about four years. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Chicago in 1895. Dr. E. N. Brundage graduated from the Fort Wayne Medical College in 1892 and has been located in Delphos ever since. Dr. E. R. Burnett took his medical degree at the Ohio Medical University in 1893 and has practiced in Delphos about four years. Dr. E. Edwards has practiced in Delphos since 1894, in which year he graduated from Jefferson Medical College. Dr. L. J. Eger graduated from Starling Medical College in 1893 and has been located in Delphos for seven years past, making a specialty of the eye, ear and throat. He has been to New York six different times and taken post-graduated courses. Dr. John B. Egts has been long established in Delphos. He graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College in 1885 and has since practiced here. Dr. H. M. Hixson, who graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1876, has been at Delphos about four years; he was formerly at Continental and Dupont. Dr. L. P. Jackson, who graduated from Starling Medical College in 1898, has practiced in Delphos nearly three years. Dr. E. B. Mauk, who graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College in 1881, has been located in Delphos about 14 years. He came here from Malinta, Ohio, where he practiced subsequent to taking his degree. Dr. H. G. Steman graduated from the Fort Wayne Medical College in 1878. He has practiced in several different places and returned to Delphos five months ago. Dr. George S. Weger has been located in Delphos since 1898 in which year he took his medical degree at the Baltimore Medical College. Dr. L. C. Tillitson graduated from the medical department of the State University of Ohio in 1904 and has been located at Delphos about one year. All the above mentioned doctors are regular practitioners with the exception of Dr. Egts, who is a homeopath and Dr. Bradshaw, who is an eclectic.

Dr. G. G. McCoy, a graduate of the University of Michigan, class of 1891, and Dr. M. H. Viel, a graduate of the same institution, class of 1898, are the dental practitioners of Delphos.

The attorneys in Delphos include John F. Lindeman, George Leasure and J. B. Brotherton.

Information From HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, by Charles C. Miller, Ph. D. and Dr. Samuel A. Baxter, Lima, Ohio, published by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, Ill 1906

Submitted by Ronald Kunz rkunz@woh.rr.com

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