HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A RESUME OF LANCASTER BUSINESS INTERESTS.

In 1799 James Converse brought nearly a canal boat-load of mer- chandise to Hunter's settlement before mentioned, from Marietta by way of the Ohio and Hocking Rivers. He opened out the stock, which consisted of dry goods and groceries, in a log cabin at Hunter's settlement. He displayed his goods on stumps and limbs of trees before the door, as well as in the corners of the cabin. It is probable though not certain, that Converse's cabin store was on the present site of Lancaster, for he appears as a merchant of Lancaster after the organization of the village. The territory he supplied was necessarily large, for in 1799 there were not more than fifty families in the entire county. William and Christian King and Frederick A. Foster were the first to begin business as dry goods merchants after Lancaster was organized as a village. Mr. Foster died in 1880, having been engaged in the retail dry goods trade the greater part of his life. Besides the three before mentioned, the following were selling goods in Lancaster in 1810: Nathaniel Cushing, on what is still known as Connell's corner; Samuel F. McCracken, on the Jacob Green corner; Archibald Carnahan, near the present site of the First National Bank, and John Creed, where Binninger's jewelry store is at present; Andrew Crochet had a store where the Giesy Block stands, and Rudolph Pitcher also sold dry goods. Following these, prior to 1825, were Jacob Green, John Black, Samuel Rogers, Jesse Beecher, Elnathan Schofield, Thomas Cushing, and Connell, Robert Smith, and Ainsworth and Willock. Until thirty years ago the ''dry goods" stores were groceries as well; and previous to 1830 they were regular junk-shops and the proprietors made no pretense of adhering to one line of goods. They kept agricultural implements, castings, harness and saddlery furnishings, carpenter's, cooper's and blacksmith's tools, patent medicines, dye stuffs and whisky. In 1824, George Kauffman from Baltimore opened the first drug store in a small frame building on Main street, where now stands the Foster block. He continued in business here till his death in 1866, when Davidson and Brazee succeeded him. The senior partner of this firm still conducts the business. About 1833 two Frenchmen, Dumont and Dippe, started a second drug store but soon retired from the busi- ness. In 1838 Joseph Bury and George W. Beck opened a stock of goods in this line on the northwest corner of Center alley and Main street. Their successors have been G. W. Beck, Slocum & Hunter, James White, Slocum & White, and Beecher White. Other druggists now in business are George G. Beck, Daniel Sifford, Gardner & Jewett and Edward Slocum. The first attempt at a special line of goods in the hardware line was 189

that of Christian King, established in 1829. This stock was not in a room set apart especially for the purpose but was kept on one side of what had been a general store, the opposite side being filled, as usual, with a mixture of dry goods and groceries. In 1839 Philip Bope opened a hardware and iron store as an exclusive branch of trade. Mr. Bope took John C. Weaver into the business a few months after opening, and they continued together for some time as Bope & Weaver. Mr. Weaver afterwards sold out and Mr. Bope remained in the business alone until 1854. In the meantime Mr. Weaver opened another hard- ware store which he first ran alone, then took in partners, and finally sold out to White, Effing & Latta. The establishment was afterwards owned by Weaver & Mithoff, and is now in the hands of Hanson & Martens, on the south side of Main street, at the mouth of Shawk's alley. On the opposite side of the street is the hardware store of McCracken and Winter, (formerly owned by William B. McCracken) which had been in existence a number of years. John Connell went into the hardware business about the same time as Mr. Bope, continued for three or four years and then retired; and about the beginning of 1881, Weigle and Frich, formerly clerks in the house of Hanson & Martens, opened a new hardware store in the Mithoff block. About 1841 the grocery business began to be recognized as a sepa- rate department of trade. Previously the grocery business had always been accompanied by whisky; but when the popular voice began to proclaim against the sale of alcoholic beverages, it was for many reasons desirable to place the two apart. At present there are not less than twenty large establishments in Lancaster which supply only such goods as belong to the legitimate grocery trade. The first book-store Lancaster ever had was started by Levi Ander- son about 1835, but being in advance of the times, it could not command a sufficient trade to thrive and was soon closed. In 1839 Messrs. Hopkins & Lymons, of Boston, opened a stock of books in connection with jewelry and musical instruments. They remained in business only about two years and then returned to Boston. Early in the decade following 1840 W. S. Beaty set up as a dealer in books and stationery, continuing several years. Since the opening of Beaty's store, the following firms have been engaged in the book business: Benjamin Connell, Percival & Van Fossen, John L. Tuthill, John Searls, M. Lehman, A. Brennemen and J. C. Tuthill. There are now two large book-stores in Lancaster. In 1841 two young men, Frost and Durbin, came to Lancaster from the east with a stock of boots and shoes, and located in Green's block. Before that time the local shoemakers did all the work to order except ladies' morocco shoes and the commonest and cheapest stogas, which were to be had at the dry goods store of the day. In 1881 it took six large retail stores to supply Lancaster and the country adjacent with foot-wear. CARRIAGE AND BUGGY SHOPS.---There are now establishments in Lancaster devoted to the manufacture of light road vehicles. The amount of work they turn out is largely in excess of what the number of men employed could have accomplished when the business was first open- ed in this county, because of the large amount of material which comes 190

nearly, if not quite ready for putting together, such as bodies, bolts, wheels and springs. The first carriage shop in Lancaster was started about 1850. THE LUMBER TRADE.---The foreign lumber trade of this county began in 1836, with the opening of the Hocking canal. Philip Bennedrum was the first lumber merchant. He has been followed by William P. Card, Vorgs Brothers, Orman Brothers, George Carter, Simeon Denten and Daniel Sifford, Jr. Carpentering is conducted in a much more expeditious manner now than formerly, because nearly all the doors, sash, blinds, siding and shingles used are prepared by machinery. Since the lumber trade has been actively engaged in, the following have been the principal master builders of Lancaster: Vorgs Brothers, Orman Brothers, Simeon Denten, and Mr. Hyle. BUILDERS IN BRICK AND STONE.---David Cowden and Mr. Stahl have been the most extensive builders in brick, which they also manu- factured. Messrs. Blaire and Boumeister have been largely engaged in putting up stone work. IRON FOUNDRIES.---The first iron foundry started in Lancaster was by Joel Smith, about 1830. John Arney became connected with the establishment as a partner in 1840; and a number of years later he bought the entire business. The business was afterwards suspended. The foundry was located at the south end of Broadway. In 1879 the buildings were destroyed by fire, together with considerable machinery. In 1840 Gilbert Devol built a foundry on the west side of the canal a a few rods south of the Main street crossing. A Mr. Swartz became associated with him as partner, and the firm continued in active busi- ness for thirty years. William Pursell finally bought the property, and changed it into a rnanufactory of agricultural implements. About 1850 George Ritter started an iron foundry on the east bank of the canal, in the northwestern part of the city, and did a thriving business for some years. At length he sold out to the Cooper brothers, who commenced the manufacture of wheat drills. Mr. William Pursell, who bought out the Devol foundry, together with his sons, continued to manufacture wheat drills and several smaller farming implements until his death. The sons who inherited his business kept it among them until 1869, when Frederick and Samuel Whiley came into the firm, bringing a large capital, by reason of which the business was greatly enlarged and continued as the "Eagle Works," by which it is now known. The Eagle Works now employ ninety men, and turn out grain drills, feed cutters, corn planters,corn shellers, horse powers and several other articles in large numbers. The Hocking Valley Manufacturing Company went into operation in 1869. They occupy the old starch factory building on the bank of the canal, in the southwestern part of the city. The company employ about ninety men in the manufacture of agricultural implements. The trustees of the company are. Theodore Mithoff, G. A. Mithoff, H. A. Mithoff, E. B. Cartmell and Thomas Mithoff. Up to 1878; Messrs. Neil, Tippett and Killion, proprietors of the ''Bent Wood Works,"were doing business at Junction City, Perry county. In November of that year the shops burned down, with a net 191

loss of $10,000. They concluded to re-establish their business, but this time fixed on Lancaster as a more desirable locality than the one that had been the seat of their operations. In the spring of 1879 they occupied the large warehouse on the canal bank, at the railroad crossing, and the same year purchased ground and erected buildings near the crossing of the Hocking Valley and Muskingum Valley Railroads. These were soon ready for use, and here they planted their business. In January, 1881, the new establishment was burned down and the proprietors sustained a loss of $20,000, over the insurance. They rebuilt the works in May following, and now employ about one hundred and twenty-five men, or one-third more than in the first new shops built by them in this city. The works turn out the running gears for buggies and carriages in large quantities. RAILROAD SHOPS.---The Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Rail- road located its shops here in 1857,on the identical spot where old Tarhetown stood, long before the white race entered the Hocking valley. These shops employ ninety men, and do the repairing for this division of the road. Since their establishment they have built seven locomotives, six passenger coaches and a large number of freight cars, which are now in use on the road. MECHANICS.---Mr. Matlack and William Bodenheimer were engaged in making spinning-wheels in Lancaster at an early day. Matlack's shop was at the foot of Main street. Mr. Spogle also made spinning- wheels. He occupied part of the shop of Henry Miers, cabinet maker. The structure was of logs, and stood on West Main street a little west of the site of the American hotel. From 1817 lo 1820 William Tong had a shop about where Bletzaker's furniture store stands at the present time. He made chairs and spinning-wheels. In 1820 Jacob Grubb bought the business and continued it at the same stand. William Duffield, carpenter, built the first house in Lancaster, on the spot now occupied by the new court house. Christian Weaver, carpenter, occu- pied the lot where Mrs. M. Z. Kreider now lives, on East Main street. John Fogelsang, blacksmith, had a shop where Mr. John D. Martin now lives. John Leonard, James Weakly and William Latimore worked at carpentering, and John K. Myers and Samuel Blazell at blacksmithing, at a very early day. Henry Johns had a carpenter shop on Chestnut street, where the late Dr. Paul Carpenter lived. John Leonard, Inman Baker and Thomas Dawlin carried on carpentering on the ground occupied by Bauman's hotel, Main street. Before 1820, Samuel Effinger had a tin-shop where the First National Bank is, on Main street. Scipio Smith, colored, carried on the tinning business about the same time. Thomas Sturgeon, silversmith, had a shop in Sturgeon's row, east side of the square, and on the north side of Main street. John Townsend, silversmith, had a shop on Main street near the canal, before 1820. James Gates succeeded Sturgeon in business. As early as 1815, Jacob Embich, John Stallsmith and John Napkin, shoemakers, were working at their trades. Joseph Work was in the retail boot and shoe business in 1827, and where Mrs. John Work now lives, on Chestnut street, there was a tailor shop. About the same time John Beeman and Colonel George Seits, gunsmiths, had their shop on Main street, about where Dr. Shawk's office is; and Samuel B. 192

Thompson, George W. Claspill, John Gibbs and William Bodenheimer began gunsmithing about 1826. Robert R. Claspill, plowmaker, came to Lancaster in 1825. Robert O. Claspill was in the same business on the present site of the English Lutheran church, Columbus street. Col. Samuel Blazer, first introduced patent scales in Lancaster in 1825. John Shure, baker, kept a house in Lancaster in 1812, and was also working at his trade. Among others who followed the latter trade at an early period were David Ketner, Hiram Hanson, Gottleib Steinman and John W. Geisy. BANKS.---The question of a bank in Lancaster took active form in 1815, when the business men of the place asked the Legislature for a charter. The act chartering the Lancaster Bank was passed the next session, and provided for a capital stock of $250,000. The company was formed and the stock subscribed, and in the summer of 1816 the bank was put in operation. Elnathan Schofield was elected president, and Michael Garaghty, cashier. Mr. Schofield resigned at the end of one year, when John Creed was elected to the vacancy, and retained the position until the bank was closed in 1842. Mr. Garaghty was the only cashier the bank ever had. He died in May, 1841, and his son, Charles F., filled the place until the bank was closed. The Lancaster Bank conducted a general banking business for twenty-six years, and closed up all its affairs about the end of the year 1843, without causing the loss of a dollar. The bank was made the agent of the State in disbursing the moneys set aside for public works---particularly in the construction of the Ohio Canal---millions of dollars passed through its hands. The money crisis that began in 1837 raised the cry of "bank reform" all over the country, and the feeling became such that it was decided not to attempt a renewal of the charter which now neared its expiration. The bank, therefore, suspended specie payment and went into assignment, with Hocking H. Hunter, Joseph Stukey and Frederick A. Foster as assignees. All the liabilities of the institution were canceled at par, and outstanding bills redeemed by exchanging for them the notes of other solvent banks. Jacob Green entered into an agreement to redeem the remnant of the bills still out for $4,000, which he carried out, and the amount then came out even. Unsigned bills representing a million and a half were found in the bank. These were burned by George Kauffman and Frederick A. Foster, to whom they were turned over by the assignees. When the Lancaster Bank was thus closed, there were two or three years during which Lancaster had no bank. This inconvenience was partially abated by the firm of Boving & Grand, wholesale grocers, who sold eastern exchanges to accommodate business men. The Hocking Valley Branch of the State Bank of Ohio was organized in 1847, with a capital stock of $100,000. It was located in the old stone building on Main street, and was in part the successor of the Lancaster Bank. Darius Talmadge was elected president, and Chas. F. Garaghty, cashier. The bank did a successful and general business until 1865, when the stockholders decided to accept the provisions of Congress, for the organization of National banks. For the purpose of changing the State Branch to a National bank, Darius Talmadge, J. R. Mumaugh and M. Effinger, assumed the stock of the State Bank, 193

and successfully closed up its affairs. Darius Talmadge was its president during its entire existence; Charles F. Garaghty was cashier one year, dating from its organization; William Slade was elected in 1848, served two years, and was succeeded by M. A. Daugherty, who retain- the place till 1855. Charles F. Garaghty was then elected the second time, serving till 1859; then Henry V. Weakly was elected cashier and remained with the bank in that capacity till 1865, when the institution was closed. Immediately following the winding up of the affairs of the State Branch the Hocking Valley National Bank sprang into existence. Darius Talmadge was the first president, and Henry V.Weakly, cashier. At the end of the first year Weekly was succeeded by John W. Farringer, who has remained cashier ever since. In 1869 Mr. Talmadge withdrew, and G. A. Mithoff became president. At the same time the capital of the bank was contracted from $100,000 to $80,000. Mr. Mithoff is still president. The Fairfield County Savings Bank, was a small private institution, with a capital stock of $25,000. It was incorporated in 1851, and its place of business was the corner room on the first floor of Green's block, (afterwards burned) northwest corner of Main street and the public square. It did a profitable business for five or six years, the duration of its charter, when it suspended. It was a popular and useful institution, having the confidence of the business men. Jacob Green was its president, and continued in that capacity till his death, when John C. Weaver succeeded and remained till the bank was closed. Charles F. Garaghty was its first cashier, followed by M. Worthington. The Exchange Bank was instituted in 1854, by John D. Martin, P. B. Ewing and Samuel Shambaugh. Six months after the opening of the bank, Mr. Shambaugh died, alter which the bank was continued by the surviving partners till 1864, when it was changed to the First National Bank of Lancaster, Ohio, John D. Martin, president, and Chas. F. Garaghty, cashier. Two years after, Mr. Garaghty was succeeded by George W. Beck, who still holds the position. When first started the capital of this bank was $50,000. Subsequently William Rippy came in as a partner, when the capital was increased to $60,000. After remaining about two years Mr. Rippy withdrew, the other partners buying his interest. This bank enjoys an enviable reputation, and withstood all the financial troubles of the country, though at times obliged to sustain heavy runs, particularly in 1877. It carried a surplus fund of $12,000 at all times. In 1879; its closed its business, surren- dered its charter, and assumed the name of the Bank of Lancaster, under which name it is now doing business, with the confidence of the public. The Commercial Bank of Lancaster went into operation in December, 1872, as a private bank, owned by A. Cochran. In June, 1873, S. J. Wright became a partner, buying one-half of the stock. In Feb- ruary Mr. Wright purchased Mr. Cochran's interest and conducted the bank alone, until the institution was merged into the Fairfield County Bank, with a paid up capital of $50,000, several partners coming in with the new arrangement and increase of capital. The first officers were: Wesley J. Peters, president; S. J. Wright, cashier. Mr. 194

Wright subsequently went out, and others have since had the place. The present president and cashier are, respectively, Fred. Whiley and H. J. Reinmund. The bank of Garaghty and Hunter was a private institution, and was opened in the fall of 1867, with an nominal capital of $50,000. Charles F. Garaghty was president and William Noble cashier. It had the public confidence for four or five years, doing a general banking business. Suspicions of its safety were common, however, during 1873, in the fall of which year it went into assignment, with J. R. Mumaugh and William Noble, as assignees. Assets, $60,000, some of which were of doubtful value; liabilities $110,000. When the assets were all collected and disbursed to the creditors about forty-one per cent. on the dollar was realized. HOTELS:---The history of Lancaster hotels begin properly with the Sturgeon House. Thomas Sturgeon, one of the earliest settlers, opened a tavern in 1803, as nearly as can be ascertained, which he kept open to the public, until his death, twenty years later. It was for some time the only house of public entertainment in the village, and the place which is now known as Lotta's corner. The next hotel which is definitely recorded, was opened in 1809 and kept by John Shure. It was sittuated on the south side of West Main street, between Arnold's corner and the American Hotel. It was torn down in 1881 and a brick building erected on the site. To his business as land- lord Mr. Shure added that of baker. It is probably that in 1810 there was a log tavern on the south side of Wheeling street, west of Mac- Cracken's alley. Few persons now living, have any recollection of such a building, and among the few there is quite a difference of opinion as to its location, some asserting that it was on the north side of the street. It is reasonably certain that its site was as first given. The "William Tell" was first kept by Frederick Snider. It has passed through many hands, but its external appearance has not been changed materially in fifty years, and it is now known as the Betz House. The "Penn Manor," adjoining the Betz House on the west, is a two-story brick hotel, and was first opened by Mr. Wetzel, about 1855. It has also had several proprietors. The present Bauman House was opened by Christian Neibling as the American Hotel. It stands on the south side of Main street, nearly opposite the Betz House. The Swan Hotel was established about 1820, on the southeast corner of Main and Columbus streets, its first proprietor being Gottleib Steinman. It chan- ged hands several times and in 1861-2 Theodore Mithoff became its owner. He enlarged and remodeled it, and changed its name to that of Mithoff House, which it still retains. On what is now known as the Schaffer corner, John Swoyer kept a tavern previous to 1810. Freder- ick A. Schaffer succeeded him, and under the latter management the place became widely known as the Schaffer House. It was closed as a hotel about 1858, and the building was remodeled into a business house. The present Talmadge House, adjoining the Schaffer block on the west, has long been a place of public entertainment. Its first proprietor was John Noble. This place was always the stopping place of the through stages. About 1832 Gottleib Steinman took possession as landlord, and in 1833 thes entire block, including stables and other out- 195

buildings, burned to the ground. It was immediately rebuilt as the "Phoenix Hotel" by which name it was known for several years. Sev- eral proprietors succeeded Steinman, and finally Darius Talmadge bought the property and rechristened it the Talmadge House. It has been changed and improved. The Broadway Hotel was started about 1830, by Kimble Hall. It has changed hands several times, and is still open. It is situated near the railroad crossing, at the south end of Broadway. The Black Horse was a tavern kept by one Zimmerman at an early day. It had several proprietors, among them Emel Jeffries and Allen House. The buildings belonging to it have since been converted to other uses. Its site was on Main street, east of the hill. A small tavern was kept by Mr. Winegardner, on North Columbus street for several years. It was closed about the year 1852. There were two houses of entertainment on the east side of Columbus street, between Main and Wheeling streets, in 1839, kept by two men named Myers. One of these places is still open, and known as the Farmers' Hotel. The other is on the corner of Wheeling and Columbus, and is used as a residence and a meat shop. The house now kept by Jacob Bauman, East Lancaster, was long known as Bish's Tavern, because for many years controlled by Martin Bish. A small tavern which stood near the canal and kept by Ferdinand Wagner, was purchased by the Muskingum Valley Railroad Co., and torn down in 1852, as it stood exactly in the centre of the pro- posed road. The property now spoken of as the "Stanberry property," situated on Main street, and used as a furniture store, immediately east of the Stone Bank, was built by Gottleib Steinman for a hotel, and kept by him as such for several years. Jacob Beck, father of George Beck, once kept a tavern on the lot now occupied by A. Beery's residence. John W. Giesy began tavern keeping in Lancaster between 1810 and 1820. His house stood on the site of Philip Bauman's new block, west of the Hocking Valley Bank. Mr. Giesy removed to his farm, south of town, more than twenty years ago, when the house was closed to the public. Thomas Fricker kept a tavern on the ground occupied by the Hibernian block, on Main street. He left it and moved to the country about 1835. The signs of those early day caravans would afford a good deal of amusement to-day, if they could be represented, with their mul- tiplicity of devices, some of which, to a modern student, would possess nothing indicative of the industry of which they were the exponents. INVENTORS.---From time to time Fairfield county has furnished inventors of a high order. Many implements and machinery have been invented, modeled and patented, some of which have found recognition and gone into general use; others, perhaps equally valuable have failed for want of enterprise, or from antagonism of opposing interests. Some of Fairfield's best inventions have been crowded out by others, of prob- ably less merit, through lack of energy and capital to bring them into appreciable recognition. John S. Sneider has been a successful inventor. In 1856 he obtained a patent for a head block for saw mills, that was adopted and brought into general use throughout Ohio, Michigan and the Western States. It was a source of revenue to the inventor. Mr. Sneider also patented what he styled a self-saving broad cast 196

plow in 1859; and in 1875 a cistern filter, which has been adopted in Lancaster, with great satisfaction. In March, 1881, John Wolfe obtained a patent for a hand corn sheller, of his own invention, which he is putting up and selling. It is composed entirely of iron, and is of simple construction. Mr. Wolfe is by profession a surveyor, and by no means a practical mechanic. George Lutz, in the year 1854, obtained a patent for a steam boiler gauge, that was pronounced a great discovery, and as possessing sup- erior advantages over anything then in use for the same purpose. What its ultimate fate was, is not known to the compiler. He likewise secured, in the following year, a patent for the invention of a police nippers, which went into general use. Mr. Lutz is a mechanic in iron and brass work. Anthony Zink is by trade a wagon maker. In 1870 he obtained a patent on a self acting wagon brake. He also invented several other ingenious contrivances. Herman Peter, gunsmith, has a patent for a new breach loading gun, that loads at the breach or muzzle, at pleasure. He has besides, a patent on a ramrod for the same gun. He also invented in connection with William Kling, a patent bung and spile. There were, however, two other parties who contributed to this discovery. Jesse Bowen possesses probably the widest range of inventive genius of any man in the county. He is a man of over seventy years. A number of years since he obtained patents on two cider presses, a washing machine, and double belt power. In 1876, a patent was issued to him for a grain and grass seed separator. But his most ingenius and probably most useful invention, is that of a spring bed bottom, for which he secured a patent right in March. 1880. Dr. Paul Carpenter, now deceased, invented a car coupler that was patented in 1858. Various tests were made of its safety and adaptation, and arrangements were on foot for its general adoption in the south, when the war broke out. It is said to be in use on some of the southern roads. Robert Gates is a musician of rare genius, especially in the compli- cated intricacies of the combinations of sound, and the transposition of keys. Wind instruments are his specialties. He invented an improvement on brass horns, which he called "division of the octave by major thirds," an achievement, it is claimed, never reached before on that class of instruments. It was patented in 1872. A few years since, a young man, then residing in Lancaster, invented and put in model form a machine designed for cutting and shocking corn by horse power. It was on exhibition for some time; good mechanics prophesied its success, but the inventor and model disappeared. Lancaster, probably, never contained a greater genius than David Williams. He was a mechanic in wood, and a pattern maker. But there was nothing he could not do, either in wood or metal. Such was his genius, that the belief obtained that he could make his own tools, and then make a watch, or sewing machine. He made a full set of artificial teeth for a lady of Lancaster. The teeth were mounted on gold plates, and proved an entire success to the close of the lady's life. It 197

was his first trial, and he had never had either instruction or experience. But beyond this he never accomplished much. He finally lost his mind, and was taken to an asylum, and shortly afterwards died. Lancaster, as well as other parts of the county, has been distin- guished for its musical talent. Space will not permit the mention of deserving names to much extent. The Schneider family seem to have been born musicians, to which has been added fine culture. Charles Schneider, the father, is a German who has devoted his life to the culture of music, and to teaching. Every member of his family has fine musical talent, as well as execution. Caroline, as a pianist, has few equals. She has made the tour of Europe, and received the admiration of its finest talent. James Gates, a silversmith, perhaps, for fineness of ear and critical ability, deserved mention among the first in his day. Robert Gates, his son, is a fine critic, and writes music fluently. He is master of all wind instruments. Dr. G. Miesse, is a composer, and teaches on the piano and organ, as well as a fine performer and critic. Ezra W. Wolfe took to music naturally, and for twenty years and upwards, has been an organizer and teacher of bands. He was leader of a band of his own training through the Rebellion. Among the list of musicians of the city and the county are the Germans' as a rule. Some of the finest bands have been composed largely of Germans. Professor William Goetz is a teacher and organist. Goetz's orchestra furnishes the music for parties and special occasions. Lancaster has also one well trained band, that ordinarily, during the summer and fall months, gives weekly serenades. Lancaster has furnished a due proportion of vocalists. Among those who have attracted the popular attention of Lancaster's own citizens, may be mentioned William Rising, Miss Sallie Reber, Miss Essie Wyncoop, Mr. Halderman and a few others. The Lilly family were natural musicians; but there arose among them one musical prodigy, in the person of little Eddie, son of Thomas Lilly. He played music to the astonishment of everybody before he knew his letters, or a note. 198

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