Monroe Township Business Establishments
The first store in the township was that built by Charles Marquand in Section 5. The first store in Otsego was established by Alonzo and Ralph De Lamoter in 1837. The next stores were built by Thomas McCall and Thomas Wilson. Others that ran stores that existed between 1860 to 1890 in Otsego were Caleb Buker, Squire Marshall, William Vinsel (Dry Goods, Groceries, & Post Office), Mr. J. L. Wortman (Boots and Shoes), Elias Sprague (General Store), Boyce and Cowden (General Store), Thomas H. Davis (Groceries and Shoes), Barclay & Ross (General Merchandise), A. W. Hague, William & Clark Ford and A. VanPelt Hagar (General Store and Postmaster). Later merchants of note were Byron & Carolyn Waters, Chris Cotton, J. A. Simmons, Ed & Rose Castor, Jim Ross, John Ross & Ed McAllister, William Jackson, Sam Fife, Jane Cowden and sister Flora Bradford, Catherine C. Wortman (Milliner), Phoebe Riney (Milliner), John & Bernice Abbott, Lyle Abbott and Harold Hahn. George Rieger later operated a general store in Marquand Mills on the banks of Wills Creek. The family closed the store after Mr. Rieger's death.
A number of trades grew up in order to serve the farming community and in support of the town. Among these were Blacksmiths, Tanners, Wagon shops and carpenters. Among notable businessmen in these professions were, Wiiliam Snoots (Blacksmith), E. H. Bradford (Cabinet Maker), John Thompson (Carpenter), James T. Case (Blacksmith), Isaac McGraw (Blacksmith), John Hammond (Wagon Maker), Marquis Norris (Harness Maker), R. A. Walker & Co. (Tanners, established 1826 by Joseph Walker), Parker Shephardson(Blacksmith) and Isaac McGraw (Blacksmith).
A number of mills were popular in the area as White Eyes Creek and Wills Creek made excellent sources of power for this type of operation. The first sawmill was built on White Eyes Creek in 1817 by Martin Richardson. In 1819, Tunis Elson built the first grist mill on White Eyes Creek. Charles Marquand had no fewer than three mills operating simultaneously in Section 5, a saw mill(1820), a carding and grist mill(1829) and a fulling mill as well as a salt works. These all were established on a dam he had constructed on Wills Creek in 1819. In 1839, Samuel Sprague built a sawmill. He had previously operated a gristmill in Dresden for another man where he often met the local Indians who would bring small packages of grain to have ground. The Otsego Flouring Mill was operated by Hamilton and Watkins.
Other than farming, a number of agricultural trades flourished in the township. Decatur Buker and Barton Cone brought the first thoroughbred cattle, Durham Cattle, to the area and became an established breeder. Jesse Ridgeway, the son of Basil Ridgeway, an Adams township pioneer, engaged extensively in buying and selling horses in Otsego. Among his other business endeavors, Charles Marquand also established an orchard. James Sprague had established the first orchard in Monroe with trees he brought from Dresden on an ox sled. Many residents had farms but also ran businesses. Many farmers also mined coal that was found on their land. Some like Kinsey Wortman and William and Alfred Smith, made a business of selling their coal.
Two hotels existed in Otsego. Joseph C. Simmons in 1880 was running the hotel that had previously been owned by Alpha Buker who had purchased it in 1851. The hotel was later owned by Thomas H. Davis. The other was run by Joseph C. Miller. That hotel was established in 1837 by David Richardson. The house was destroyed by fire in 1870. Other Hotel and Tavern keepers were Thomas Miller and George Hahn.
The first doctor in Monroe township was Dr. Cass who started a practice here in 1830. Dr. Alonzo De Lamater followed as did Dr. J. M. Lane, Dr. Douglas Bell, Dr. Luther Jackson, Dr. Ira Bradford, Dr. Curtis Waters, Dr. Dawson, Dr. James G. Shirer, Dr. Thomas R. Wilson, Dr. Romaine, Dr. Fairchild, amd Dr. Isaac Curtis. Dr. Johnson also operated a drug store in Otsego. Dr. Shirer, a resident of Adamsville, was a student of Dr. Waters, a resident of Otsego and his father-in-law. He later moved his family to Newark where he practiced medicine until his tragic death in 1940 after being hit by a car while returning to his office from lunch. Dr. Waters also practiced in Adamsville for a number of years. Dr. De Lamater was responsible for giving the name Otsego to the village. It also should be mentioned that the job of undertaker fell to J. T. Riney who also made a living as a general contractor.
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