This article appeared in the newspaper, The Monroe Gazette on September 14, 1890

A Visit to Lewisville, Ohio.

A "snap shot" in time of Lewisville, Ohio published in the September, 1890 issue of The Monroe Gazette. The article was written by a staff writer of The Monroe Gazette.

Lewisville is situated on a hill near the head of Sunfish Creek. Through it passes the B. Z, & C. R. R. and two important county roads. Surrounding the town are some very fine and nicely laying farms. The town is not incorporated, but will likely be this fall, as some necessary steps have already been taken.

In the town are two blacksmith shops, two tobacco packing houses, one shoe shop, one furniture maker and dealer in furniture, two undertakers, two hotels, two saloons, three general stores, one Odd Fellows lodge, two doctors, one hardware and furniture store, several carpenters, two churches, three tobacco packers, two carpenter shops, a roller flouring mill, a post office, a school house, depot building and telegraph office.

One of the blacksmith shops is owned by Mr. W. O. Hawkins and the other by Mr. Marion Thornberry. Both gentlemen are good smiths and do a good business.

One of the tobacco packing houses is owned by C. G. Oblinger and the other by Mr. Bott, successor to W. O. H. Bott, deceased. Both of these gentlemen deal in tobacco and their packing houses are seldom idle--especially in the winter season.

Mr. Phillip Reppert is proprietor of the only shoe shop in Lewisville, and the fact that he has no opposition is sufficient evidence that he is thorough in his profession. He does a good business in the way of making and mending boots and shoes. Mr. Reppert is a native of Germany, and is a very pleasant and accommodating gentleman.

Mr. F. A. Ullrich manufactures and deals in furniture and does a general repairing business. He is also an undertaker.

The Arlington House is owned by J. G. Distler, and is a good place for the hungry traveler to stop. Good meals, good beds and other excellent accommodations have given the Arlington a good name and won for "Pap" Distler a good reputation as a landlord.

Chas. Deckhut is proprietor of the "Rush" House, and is always accommodating and pleasant to his guests--Good meals, good beds, good stables, etc., are the leading features at the Rush House. When you go to Lewisville, "staid once mit Charley" and see if what we say is not true.

The two saloons are owned by the two landlords.

The three general stores are owned by Messrs. C. G. Oblinger, Fred Bott and Benj. Bott, Esq. Mr. Oblinger has been in the business longer than either of the others, and keeps almost all kinds of goods usually found in a general store. He takes all kinds of produce in exchange for goods, and is doing a very extensive business.

Mr. Fred. Bott, who keeps a general store at the depot, has not been long in the business, but is doing remarkably well for one no longer established. Honesty, enterprise and strict attention to business are building up a lucrative trade for him.

Mr. Benj. Bott, successor to W. O. H. Bott, deceased, is also a good young man, and is doing a good business.

The Odd Fellows lodge at Lewisville has nearly forty members in good standing, and has bright prospects of increasing its membership. The lodge owns the room in which its meetings are held and is in a good condition financially. We hope it may continue to prosper.

The two physicians are Drs. Weber and Diehl. Both are young men, well read, wide-awake and have had enough practice in and around Lewisville to establish for themselves good reputations and good practices.

The hardware and furniture store is owned by Messrs. L. E. Stegner and Rhinehart Rice, who also deal in grain drills, farm implements, rud threshing machines, saw mills and do many other honorable things to make money. They also do an undertaking business.

The Lutheran church is a fine large structure, and has suspended in its belfrey an excellent bell. Rev. Egger, of Woodsfield, is pastor at that church. The Methodist church is an old building and will likely be torn down before many years.

Darling Harbin, J. W. Reeves and V. E. Dillon are the tobacco packers of Lewisville and are said to be good ones. Darling is perhaps the oldest in the business; but "Little Washington" and "Crandle" are up in "G" with the old gentleman.

Mr. H. J. Bender owns a neat little carpenter shop and office on Main Street, and is considered one of the best architects and builders in Monroe County. His work stands everywhere as a lasting advertisement -- beautiful to behold and not easily shaken by time, tide or storm.

Mr, Chris Bender also has a carpenter shop near the depot and is doing a good business. His reputation as a mechanic is very good. Work put up by him always presents a good appearance and is substantial and pleasing.

The rolling flouring mill owned and operated by Oblinger, Spiry & Co., is a grand affair and is perhaps doing more to build up Lewisville than any other enterprise in the town. Mr. Fred Young, the gentlemanly Miller, and his assistant, Mr. H. F. Sebaugh, seem to thoroughly understand the art of making good flour, and are supplying not only Lewisville and vicinity, but are drawing custom from a distance. Lately the mill has had so much to do that it has been necessary to frequently run late at night.

The Lewisville post office is neat and tidy. Mr. George Distler is postmaster and his oldest son assistant.

The Lewisville school house is a frame building and has two rooms, large and well ventilated. It presents a nice appearance and is located nicely.

Mr. George Kellar is station agent and telegraph operator, and is first rate young man, who has many friends in Lewisville and vicinity.

There are several carpenters, school teachers, clerks, etc., in Lewisville which time and space will not now permit us to mention.

Mr. Phillip Weber is by a few days the oldest resident of Lewisville. He is about 71 years of age, a farmer, and has resided here for many years. Himself and wife are kindhearted, jovial and highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Weber is a tried and true Republican, and owns many acres of fine land near Lewisville.

Another of Lewisville's leading and most highly respected citizens is Mr. Alex. Buchanan, who is but a few days younger than Mr. Weber. He is a tanner by trade, served as Justice of the Peace for many years, and also owns considerable valuable real estate in and around Lewisville. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have resided in Lewisville for years and have many warm friends there.

Lewisville also has some pretty girls, some good boys, some fine houses. A little of everything that goes to make up a prosperous and pleasant town.

Charley Baker is here working in the telegraph office during Mr. Kellar's absences, and is--is--but we won't go any further, Charles, for fear the Jerusalem girl, the Captina girl or the Woodsfield girl may get mad.

Mr. P. L. Wise purchased two fine chickens tonight and will take one of them on the road tomorrow for dinner. We'll bet that unless all of P. L.'s fellow workmen belong to church, he will not get a smell of that hen for dinner tomorrow.

In conclusion I desire to say that the citizens of Lewisville and vicinity are intelligent, industrious, kind-hearted, and have shown the Gazette and your correspondent many favors, for which they will please accept our thanks.

[Also mentioned in the above article were J.W. Gramlich as being in the "store business." H.J. Bender and Jesse Fisher were mentioned as members of the carpenter trade. Henry Gehoning was engaged in wagon making and "Clel" Buchanan was in the tanning business.]

FROM THE MONROE GAZETTE

September, 1890

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