The company was incorporated in 1872 with a capitol of $150,000. Officers of the company are Levi D. York, President and General Manager; J. E. Jones, Vice-president; B. P. Vincent, Secretary and Treasurer. Incorporators were John R. Williams, Charles Burgess, b. f. Perregrin, M. H. Ball, Fred Thompson, w. E. Williams and T. R. Ball At the time of incorporation the "Burgess process" was an improvement on the old process. In 1878 the open hearth process was introduced and the Burgess process abandoned. the output is steel and iron, the latter being high-grade tension iron, used by manufactures of chains. Also they made open-hearth and crucible steel, use in manufacture of plows, tanks, springs, etc. A composition metal is constructed for safes and jails, and center steel for agricultural purposes
In 1889 the capacity was upwards of 59,000 tons per year. Over six hundred operatives were employed and works was running around the clock. The works was located at the foot of Third street, near the Ohio river, and covered some seven acres.
On June 7th 1889 the works were totally destroyed by fire.
Some eight acres are occupied by this mill and they had a branch yard at Winchester, OH. The raw material was by purchase and from their 700 acre forest in KY. Additional in 1886purchased the Brushart Lumber Company located on Fourteenth Street. The annual output was near four million feet of rough and dressed lumber, five million shingles, from one and half to two million lath and from eight to ten car loads of doors, sash and blinds
The founder of the company was Mr. H. Lett was born May 1818 in Pennsylvania, and although nearly eighty years old was still active in the company. He came to Portsmouth in the early 1850s and embarked in the lumber business. Phelps C. Leet, junior member of the firm became associated with his father in 1892. Educated as civil engineer, he spent one year in Mexico in this profession. He was married in June 1894 to Miss Louise Grosvenor, the daughter of Hon. C. H. Grosvenor, Leader of the House in Congress.
Cuppett & Webb Lumber yard was located at 209-215 W. Front street owned by H. H. Cuppett and David L. Webb. They were manufactories of Door and Door and Window Frames, Beveled Siding, Flooring, Ceiling, Shingles and Inside Finish. They also owned a large tract of timber on Turkey creek and had a sawmill there for which Mr. Cuppett has supervision. Mr. Webb came to Portsmouth in 1872 and is assisted by his two sons. J. T. Webb is yard superintendent and salesman, David L. Webb, Jr. has charge of the accounts.
The Ackerman Planing Mill was located at the corner of Thirteenth street and the crossing of the Cincinnati, Portsmouth and Virginia Railroad. Mr. Ackerman, the head of the institution, was for a number years the practical man with Carl Lehman, and later, with the Brushart Company. Subsequently he organized The Portsmouth Planing Mill Company and operated their plant on Gallia street until 1895, when he began business for himself. In 1898 he was contemplating the erection of a lager plant, extending fro the railroad on the west to the extreme limit of his lot on the east but was so busy with customers that he had not been able to get underway with the project.
He had a standing contract with the C P & V RR to supply all the building material in his line for them.
Relations with Spain was severed April 21 by Spain's dismissal of Minister Woodford. On April 22nd Cuba was blockaded by the American squadron, and on the 23d President McKinley rang up the curtain, with his sword, set the stage for war in the interest of humanity by calling for 125,000 volunteers. Was formally declared on the 26th, the day company H left for camp Bushnell.
Taken on the morning of its departure for Columbus April 26th, 1898 to participate in the war with Cuba. The line of march formed at Market square, and marched up Second street to Chillicothe, thence north to the N. & W. depot.
Note The Portsmouth National Bank in the corner of the building. This bank was organized in 1846. The late Colonel Peter Kinney being the first President. George Johnson and Jno. G. Peebles have also been head of the institution. Mr. Peebles, age 85, was president in 1889.
picture courtesy of Sherry Staten
Conducting business since 1894 was /captain Creed Milstead, Martin C. Linck, and J. H. Blankemeyer. The salesrooms were presided over by Blankemeyer and assisted by Dave Edwards. The other members of the company looked after the out of town interest of the company. One unusual thing about these men is that they all weighted over 200 pounds. The combined weight of the trio was 665 pounds.
The most extensive Red Brick Yards in the city was those of Clyde E. King, situated on the river about a mile east of the city proper, on in the hamlet locally known as Earlytown or the village of Kendall. The picture show the workman making brick.
In 1895 Mr. King purchased the Harper farm adjoins the city and began making brick from the excellent quality of clay found there, removing his operations from Fullerton, KY. 15,000 bricks could be made per day. The brick, a little larger than standard sizes, wee pronounced by contractors and builders to be a very satisfactory article, had a sale of one million for the season if he can make that many.
The Portsmouth Pressed Brick Company manufactures of paving and building brick with daily output of 25,000 bricks.
Located on Scioto Road near the C. P. V. and N. W. Railroads. Officers were H. S. Grimes, President; S. P. Baird, Vice President; and W. A. McFarlin, Secretary and Treasure.
The business of making brick and doing contracting was begun by the Kaps Brothers, Peter and John, in 1866. John in 1898 had carried on the business for several years at the corner of Tenth and Court streets. Pioneers in the brick business in Portsmouth, some of the buildings using their bricks include: the Biggs House, the Elk Building, the Damarin Block, The Blade Building, the Gillett Art Studio, Massie Block, churches, schools houses and other public buildings.
M. B. Gilbert & Company Wholesale Grocers located at 50, 52 and 54 West Second Street, Portsmouth with a frontage of 61 feet on Second Street and 124 feet on Washington Street. This building was under construction in 1898 and slated to be the largest and most complete grocery building in southern Ohio. The business was established in 1832 at 167 West Front street by the late M. B. Gilbert who died in November 1877. After his death the firm of M. B. Gilbert & Co. was organized, consisting of Mrs. M. B. Gilbert, George Appel and J. S. Gaston. This partenership lasted till the death of Mr. Gaston in 1892. The business was continued by Mrs. Gilbert and Mr. Apple till 1894, when Mr. George A. Goodman was admitted to the partnership.
In 1890 they bought out the wholesale house of Damarin & Co. and moving the business to the Damarin building at 199, 291, and 203 West Front street.
The firm carried a large variety of goods in stock than any house in the territory and many of the goods were manufactured just for them.
Three traveling salesman represent the firm on the road: John C. Bauer, who travels Adams, Highland, Pike, Jackson and Scioto counties; W. M. Biggs looks after the trade in Kentucky and West Virginia; and G. D. Huges respective the firm in northern West Virginia, Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio.
W. F. Havekotte is city salesman. In addition to goods sold by their salesmen, the house enjoyed a very large trade by mail, long distant telephone and personnel visits by customers.
Central Grocery former by the partnership of J. F. Menke and George J. Schmidt in January 1 , 1985 was located in the Kricker building on Gallia street.
They ran three wagons and employed five employees. They carried a fine line of fancy groceries of the choicest importation or home brand. "Club House," Edom and Roquefort, leaders in Cheese, imported sardines, fish and table sauce were in stock of the best grades, "Central Star" floor was made expressly for their trade, of Spring and Winner wheat, combined well with all requisites of a pastry and bread product. The sales room was fitted with very modern convenience. A electric plant furnishes heat in winter and drives a combination of breezy fans to cool the room in summer. It also furnished the motive power to run the coffee mill, and a modern refrigerator was on duty.
The company started in 1889 and the pant was doubled by 1898 giving a smelting capacity of twenty-five tons and boasted of being the busiest foundry on earth.
Officers of the company were F. V. Rnauss, President; G. W. Baker, Vice President; and W. S. Todd, Secretary and Treasure.
The Model Steel Range was available in 175 styles and sizes.
The company made blank books, paper boxes and steamboat stationery, employing 50 operatives. By 1889 Mr. Patterson had been in business for 57 years. Born in Steubenville, OH 13 December 1826 he learned his trade at the James Turnbull bindery at the age of 14. In October 1850 he came to Portsmouth and was employed at Stevenson & Co., booksellers and binders. In 1855 he purchase half interest in the bindery, and in 1864 a half interest in the store. The store proved unprofitable and was closed out. He became sole owner of the business in1866.
The building was a three story plus basement giving a floor space of 9,800 square feet in the 20 foot wide by 120 foot deep building.
A large percentage of the boxes were made are for shoe factories, whose products were cut to order and labeled.
Sanford Varner & Company manufacturers of clothing for fine retail trade corner of Third and Chillicothe Streets in 1898
In 1898 they had been doing business for 18 years. The members of the firm was A. L. Sanford, J. H. Varner. A. L. Sanford had charge of the wholesale department, Clay V. and Louis Sanford the manufacturing department, and J. H. Varner the retail.
