Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-08-21

suddenly. But time and conditions
have arrived that justify us In expect
ing rapid growth, and fruition oflong
deferred anticipations.
1t may not be interesting to many OF
the older persons here IL attempt to
reproduce the name of as many as
/ can recollect Of the highly worthy
men who were business and profession
al residents Of Perrysburg 81 years ago.
can do no more than remember those
who were most prominent. l was too
young to know, and so 1 can not now
recall all Of them; but 1t can not be un-
fair TO say that John Hollister was the
leading spirit of the village, not per-
haps because he was the most worthy
or most able citizen, although in both
these respects he would have taken
high rank In any community, but the
accident of early immigration hither,
close association with the element OF
prosperity, and large ownership in
the village, gave him most naturally
the distinction have named. Besides
all this was his leadership in merchant
marine construction and the commerce
Of the river. Before the days of steam
boats, before the steamers Walk in the
Water and Enterprise, in the days OF
8 nall scteoltrd John Hollister received
the goods of the Indian traders, sent
them forward by teams to Providence,
from whence they were taken by keel
boats or perogues to Ft. Wayne, hauled
across the nine portage to the head wa
ters of Little river, and from thence
down the Wabash. This system OF
transportation was continued until re-
lieved by the canal. In the aggregate
there was good deal of commercial
traffic at Perrysburg in 1886, including
lumber, salt and furnishing provisions
to the contractors on the canal. l was
sent down the Ohio canal for the pur-
chase of corn. I went in canal boat
from Cleveland-laid a week at break
awfully sick with the ague-but l got
there. l bought 1900 bushels of corn
which was brought to Perrysburg from
Cleveland by the schooner Caroline.
John Hollister was worthy represen-
tative of his race everywhere. He was
the moving inspiration in the building
of the steamer Com. Perry, and later in
association with John w. Smith, of a
list of sail vessels and steamers, includ-
ing the Gen. Wayne in 1887.
b. +. Hollister was also a man of
mark in the new country of 1886, in a
somewhat different line. The Hollis
tiers were large dealers in furs and pei
tries, and Frank was manager of pur-
chases in wide scope of the West.
When in the spring the collections of
the winter were ready for market, John
negotiated the sale, sometimes to the
American fur companies, and some
times to the Hottengurs of Germany.
Ihat firm, by name, is yet in existence.
The fur trade at Perrysburg was some-
times-not always-a profitable one.
Associated with John HolIister, in
1885, was John w. Smith. He came
here from Syracuse after a short resi-
dence at Cleveland. He embarked
small fortune in the shipping and in
long dock below the old warehouse.
The dock was built in the common ex-
pectation of, and in preparation for
the congress to come by the canal. of
course it was dead loss, and the ship
ping, with the exception of the Perry
and Wayne, was likewise Improbable.
1t was like everything else, begun too
early. A first-rate merchant was spoil
ed when Mr.. Smith entered the perma-
ture field of q Western operator. Sub
5equently, he opened large stock farm
at lower Mama, but that was perma-
ture also. No one could pay for blood
ed stock. Every thing but the land
was lost. believe that it is there yet.
And now l come to man who won
. reputation around the whole chain of |
axes. Capt. David Wilkinson was
nan of much more than average intel
ectual capability. Stern of manner on |
ieck-rather from saltwater precedents |
han from desire-but with the heart |
)fa woman. Industrious, scrupulously |
honest in his business relations, daunt-
ess in the performance of his duty. |
That is the epitah I write for the brave |
captain. At his home in the winters,
10 Perrysburg citizens were more hos
)itable than Capt. Wilkinson and his |
most estimable wife. remember those |
hearty entertainments as the pleasant !
,st of my life. He acquired considera-
Die wealth, but according to univers-
'esult Of those changing times, lost it,
md died the keeper of a range-light in
Maumee bay.
John G. Sphinx was bright, capable
Ind successful lawyer. Undoubtedly
le was the leader of the bar at the foot |
If the Rapids in 1886. say this with
,ut desire or intention to belittle the
of other worthy gentlemen of
lis profession. There may have been
stronger men there, but the opportuni-
y had previously come to Sphinx, and |
le had seized it. Besides the elements
If good lawyer, Sphinx possessed geni-
Il magnetic traits that endeared him to
people outside of his profession. He
vas the life and light of the social,
'Onvival gatherings of the day, and |
while he was much older than myself, |
have a joyful recollection of his spark
ing and entertaining manner.
But elements of popularity are some-
lines possessed offs reactiOnary force. |
conviviality leads away
rom the dry tedious details of law
business.
While Capt. Wilkinson sailed the
schooner Eagle, he landed at Perrys-
)urg cask of gin. 1t had no mark of
ownership, and remained in store for
years. In the winter of 1887 it was tap
bed, and a pitcher of 1t was to be found |
svery morning on the table of the of |
ice. 1t became the Smiling" place
If great number of village worthless. |
Let us go down and get a little "old |
Eagle" was the common expression. 1t |
was the habit of the times. The cap
ain and Sphinx always played good |
land at it. They were both lame, but |
we're never so lame as when thew went |