Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/535

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND C0U:N'TY.

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��in that business to the present time. Stiir- ges, Wood & Witter began jobbing dry goods in this year (1866) in connection with their retail business. In a year, their wholesale business had increased to such an extent that they also closed up their retail business. The stock and business of this fimi continually in- creased until the latter reached about $800,000 per annum. They were then occupying the block on the Sturges corner, but upon the com- pletion of the Hedges Block, corner of East Diamond and the Public Square, in 1873, the}' transferred their stock to that block. This firm was also engaged in the wholesale crockery and queensware business until 1870, when they sold out to Markward & Harroun. In 1869, the wholesale gi'ocery firm of E. P. Sturges & Co. came into existence, and soon established a large business. Reed, Jones i& Co. (now H. M. Weaver & Co.) also came in 1869, and started a wholesale boot and shoe store in the Opera Building. This firm also moved into Hedges' Block in 1873. This was the second establish- ment of this kind then in the eit}-, John G. Spencer having been engaged in wholesaling boot, shoes, hats and caps for several years. In addition to these were J. H. Reed & Brother, doing a large wholesale book, paper and notion business ; F. S. Lahm & Co., wholesale hats, caps, trunks, etc.; Custer & Brother, wholesale hardware, and various other establishments were wholesaling and retailing.

The amount of sales by wholesale houses in Mansfield for the year ending April 30, 1869, is thus stated by the Herald. The list com- prises only those whose sales are over $50,000 per annum :

Sturgis, Wood & Witter, $582,523 ; Tracy, Avery & Sturges, $440,370 ; Remy, Hedges & Walter, $195,921 ; Strong, Son & Co. (produce), $120,559; J. H. Reed & Bra, $92,724.64; John Gr. Spencer, $90,441 ; Sturges, McVay & Allison (lumber), $89,234 ; M. & J. H. Black (dry goods), $79,761 ; L. J. Tracy & Co. (pro-

��duce), 79,390 ; T. B. Orr (hardware), $71,817 ; Blymyer & Bro. (stoves and tinware), $59,383 ; Reed, Jones & Co. (three months' sales), $24, 735.40. The writer adds : " Five years ago, we could boast of no wholesale trade of conse- quence ; there was no exclusively wholesale house in Mansfield. Now we have twelve houses whose sales are above $50,000 per annum."

In the height of its prosperity, the wholesale trade of Mansfield must have exceeded $2,500,- 000 per annum, exclusive of The Aultman and Taylor Manufacturing Company, and other machine works and factories. To give a fair idea of the business of the factories, the Mans- field Herald of February 22, 1872, is responsi- ble for the following statement :

„ Capital Men

■"^^'"^ Employed. Employed.

The Aultman & Taylor Co $353,000 125

Mansfield Machine Works 750,000 200

Crackers and Bread 43,000 18

Lumber 234,000 54

Furniture 46,000 27

Flour and Feed 60,000 6

Paper Mill 74,000 10

Tin and Sheet Iron 49,000 25

Carriages and Wagons 17,000 12

Breweries 60,000 22

Millinery Goods 45,000 50

Boiler Works 18,000 7

Foundry and Machinery 38,000 22

Tanning 20,000 6

Boots and Shoes 65,000 85

Flax Mill 45,000 7

Soaps 82,000 9

Clothing 133,000 100

Brick 40,000 42

Woolen Mill 150,000 30

Sundries 40,000 42

Total $2,312,000 899

As another indication of the immensity of the tidal wave of prosperity' in those days, it is found that the total amount of incomes re- turned for taxation in 1868 was over $300,000. A few of the largest were : C. Aultman, $102.- 230 ; H. H. Sturges, $10,969 ; H. Colby, $9,379 ;

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