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| Keator, Wells & Co., Sanborn Fire Insurance map, 1902. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 10, 1899.
BIG NEW INDUSTRY.
WALL PAPER WILL BE MANUFACTURED IN CORTLAND.
A Company Formed With One Hundred Thousand Dollars Capital—The Building Secured—Work to Begin Next Week—Solid Financiers Behind the Enterprise.
For several weeks negotiations have been in progress for the purchase of the large brick building forming a part of the Keator, Wells & Co.'s manufacturing plant on the north side of Elm-st., by representatives of a company composed principally of Cortland capitalists, to be organized for the purpose of engaging in the business of manufacturing wall paper. For certain reasons it was deemed best that the pending negotiations be kept as quiet as possible, and it was not until yesterday that it was thought wise to give the matter publicity.
The DEMOCRAT is now at liberty to say that the manufacturing interests of Cortland will be augmented by an industry that will command attention from all parts of the country, and one that will be of great benefit to the village. The organization of the company is not fully complete, but the amount of capital stock is $100,000, with the following holders: David F. Wallace, J. H. Wallace, C. F. Wickwire, T. H. Wickwire, D. W. Van Hoesen, O. U. Kellogg, George F. Cooper, Lester Cooper, all of Cortland, and C. M. Clinton and George I. Coy of Ithaca. These stockholders are men of first class business ability, and their names are a guarantee that the enterprise of such great importance to Cortland will prove a success.
The building secured by the new company is a brick structure 435 feet long by 53 feet in width, extending from Elm-st. north along the east line of the D. L. & W. railroad. It is five stories high and was erected eighteen years ago by the C. B. Hitchcock Manufacturing company. A large force of men will be put to work next week clearing out the building and putting it in shape for the necessary machinery. Two boilers of one hundred horse power each, and a hundred and fifty horse power engine will be placed in the building to supply heat and power.
Perhaps it is not generally understood that what are termed wall paper manufacturers do not make the paper, but such is the case. What this company will do is to print the paper after it is made at some of the many establishments in the country. This printing process requires delicate machinery and it is the intention of the Cortland company to secure the best presses and other necessary machines in the world. When D. F. and J. H. Wallace were in Germany in 1896 they had an opportunity to inspect the machinery for paper printing in that country and they were so impressed with the superiority of these German products that they will probably be purchased for the new factory. If this is done it will be the only wall paper concern in the United States operating these intricate machines from the Faderland [sic].
SUICIDE OF ROMEYN OLDS.
Grandson of Mrs. Chauncey Keator Kills Himself with a Shot Gun.
Romeyn Olds, a grandson of Mrs. Chauncey Keator, committed suicide last Friday by shooting himself in the head. The deceased was 17 years of age and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Olds of Erie, Pa. He was also a nephew of Hon. George S. Sands of this village, and had always made yearly visits to his Cortland relatives. The particulars of the sad affair are difficult to obtain, for the reason that the Cortland friends arc all in Erie, and the only information in their possession when they left on Monday was from a dispatch sent out by the Associated Press, which stated that young Olds "committed suicide at 1 o'clock Friday morning by blowing out his brains with a shot gun in his own room. No cause is assigned."
About a year ago a sister of Romeyn Olds died, and the shock so completely prostrated Mrs. Olds that it is feared her son's tragic death may result seriously to her. Romeyn, who was heir to a large property, leaves a brother about 15 years old.
Village Election Inspectors.
The following are the names of the inspectors to serve in the several wards at the village election next Tuesday:
First ward—M. L. Alexander, John Tuthill, Republicans; Fred L. MacDowell, Democrat.
Second ward: O. P. Miner, Arthur Holt, R; Charles V. Coon, D.
Third ward: John Lannan, Eugene Davis, D.; F. A. Woodworth, R.
Fourth ward: M.E. Corwin, Frank A. Phelps, R.; Michael Burns, D.
DEATH OF LEWIS S. SMITH.
A Former Cortland County Man Passes Away—A Remarkable Family Career.
The death of Lewis S. Smith in Omaha, Neb., last week seems an opportune time to review the history of a family whose entrance in the financial world and subsequent success stands without a parallel, except it be in the case of the Moore Brothers of Chicago.
Lewis S. Smith was many years ago a resident of Cincinnatus in this county, and along in the early sixties he moved to Center Lisle and became the manager for J. S. Rockwell & Co. of Brooklyn, of two tanneries, one at Center Lisle and the other at Lisle. The family consisted of five sons and three daughters. Mr. Smith opened a store at Center Lisle and with his son, Leroy H., managed a large saw mill, being large shippers of lumber. At about 1877 Mr. Smith met with business reverses and was compelled to compromise with his creditors.
Just previous to this time one of his sons, Lyman G. Smith, went to Syracuse and engaged in the lumber business, the venture proving a success. Soon after the failure of Lewis S. Smith, his son, Leroy H., also went to Syracuse and associated himself with W. H. Baker, the inventor of the celebrated Baker breech-loading gun and the company began the manufacture of these guns in a comparatively small building to Walton-st. A few years later Lyman C. and Leroy H. Smith secured entire control of the Baker patent and they established agencies in all parts of the world, the Baker gun securing a reputation unequalled by any other made.
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| Lyman Cornelius Smith. |
Lyman C. Smith, soon after dissolving partnership with his brother Leroy, bought a patent on a typewriter and immediately abandoned the gun business, devoting his whole attention to his typewriter, which has become famous as the Smith Premier, and which is known in every civilized country on the globe. When the combination of typewriter manufacturers was formed it is said Mr. Smith received a million dollars worth of stock, which is now worth much more than its face value. That he is very wealthy is proven by the fact that he has recently invested $700,000 in valuable real estate in Seattle, Wash., and that he is the owner of thousands of dollars worth of property in Syracuse, besides the immense plant for the manufacture of typewriters.
Associated with him in a business capacity are his three brothers, William S., Monroe and Wilbert, each of whom is known to be very wealthy.
These five sons have all acquired their vast wealth by their own judicious investments and by their strict attention to business, and their financial success is phenomenal.
Lewis S. Smith has resided in Syracuse for several years, but he has continued to manage the tannery at Center Lisle making frequent trips to that place. On his return he was always a conspicuous figure at the Cortland station as he invariably changed trains here, which caused a detention of a half hour. He was 78 years old and leaves a brother, A. J. Smith, who lives at Cincinnatus. Three or four weeks ago he went to Seattle with Lyman C. Smith, and on the return trip he was taken ill and died in Omaha, Neb., last Wednesday. His wife died at their home in Syracuse three years ago.
A CASE OF SUICIDE.
John H. Day Kills Himself by Putting a Bullet into His Brain.
The report last Friday morning that John H. Day bad committed suicide was received with much doubt until a call at the family residence, 26 Church-st. verified the rumor. Mr. Day has been known in Cortland business circles for at least twenty years, being at one time engaged in the grocery trade at what is now known as Hopkins' store, his brother-in-law, Wm. E. Forrest, being associated with him. He had at one time conducted the Mansion House in Homer, and being familiar with the work, he conceived the idea that a temperance hotel and café would be a profitable investment in Cortland and leased the Wickwire building, No. 33 and 35 Railroad-st., for that purpose. This venture was not a success and he again moved to Homer and conducted the Hotel Windsor. Here he was financially successful, as he at one time informed the writer, but owing to a change in ownership he was compelled to give up possession of the property, and he then returned to Cortland, living with his sister, Miss Nellie Day. During the past winter he had been on the road a part of the time selling seeds for his brother-in-law. He had lately seemed somewhat despondent over his financial reverses but his family had no suspicion that he contemplated suicide.
Thursday night be retired as usual and at about 3 o'clock Mrs. Day was awakened by the alarm clock. This was two hours earlier than the time usually set for the alarm to go off, and it Is thought Mr. Day caused the time piece to sound the alarm at that early hour designedly. Mrs. Day returned to bed and awoke again at 5 o'clock, her husband remarking that he did not feel well enough to get up and that she would have to start the fires. While she was engaged about the stove she heard a pistol shot, and upon returning to the bedroom was horrified to find her husband lying on the bed with a smoking revolver by his side and blood flowing from a wound in the head.
Medical aid was immediately summoned and Drs. Sornberger and Higgins were soon at the bedside. Upon examination they found that Mr. Day had placed the weapon just back of the ear, the bullet following the skull up over the top of the head, and becoming lodged near the left temple. He lingered unconscious until shortly after 7 o'clock in the evening, when he passed away.
The only reason that can be assigned is despondency over his financial affairs. That he had premeditated the fatal act is evident because he had never been known to own a revolver and had secured one unknown to his wife. Besides his wife he leaves one son, Fred Day, a brother, Geo. A. Day of Upper Lisle, and a sister, Miss Nellie Day. The funeral was held on Monday.
HERE AND THERE.
The past year has been a record breaker for suicides and attempts at self destruction in Cortland.
O. P. Miner of this village has sold his farm of 120 acres in the town of Taylor to Erwin Freeman of Cincinnatus.
The A. O. H banquet in honor of St. Patrick will he held on the evening of March 16, instead of the l7th, as heretofore announced.
The DEMOCRAT intends to boom Cortland in every legitimate way and it asks the co-operation of all manufacturers and business men.
The town board met Monday and made the following appointments: Citizens' Member of Board of Health, B. B. Morehouse; Health Officer, Dr. M. R. Smith; Truant Officer, J. E. Edwards.
All the school ma'ams from the first commissioner district will visit Cortland the week beginning April 10 to attend an institute.
A sure sign that spring is near at hand is the numerous round chalk marks on the sidewalks, made by urchins for playing marbles.
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