A Research Paper On Ohio`s Canal Lockkeepers

A Research Paper
On Ohio’s Canal
Lockkeepers
BY
David A. Meyer
1
Lockkeeper Introduction
The canal system in Ohio was copied from New York's Erie Canal system which was operating successfully when Ohio began their planning for its system. They copied the organization, job titles, dimensions of the canal structures and operating procedures and met and corresponded regularly during the
construction process.
Ohio organized the canal system into "Divisions" with superintendents, resident engineers, weighmasters, inspectors, collectors, lock tenders and repair superintendents in each division. The superintendents, collectors and resident engineers were considered officers or management of the division and lock
tenders were considered employees of the division superintendent.
There has been an ongoing discussion about just what the lock tender's duties were on the canal. After
considerable amount of searching, I have come to the conclusion that their duties varied according to the
wishes of the superintendent. It is well known that the Ohio canal system copied as close as possible
the system started in New York. The New York lock tender duties were described in a book by Mike
Riley entitled "Twelve and A Half Miles" where he had found an appointment letter to a lock tender
from his superintendent dated March 1822 and his directions for the lock keeper were:
"1.Your duty will be to take charge of the Lock, to assist all boats in passing the lock at any hour them
may arrive with the least possible delay.
2. The culvert gates at your lock you are to keep in repair and also the spindles, cranks, etc., and for that
purpose you will provide yourself with good and sufficient plank for making said gates, and when any
one shall fail you will immediately repair the same; for which you will be allowed one dollar for putting
in one half of a gate when that only is necessary, and one dollar sixty-three cents for putting in a whole
gate, and when the cranks or spindles are to be repaired the blacksmiths will be allowed to you.
3.You are to keep the culverts or passages for water into the locks clear from all sticks or other substances which shall in any way prevent the said lock from filling with facility; you will also take out of
the canal all float wood which shall come with twenty five rods of your lock.
4. For the above mentioned services you will be allowed twelve dollars per month, and no charges for
services rendered in repairs or otherwise in keeping the lock in good order will be allowed, other than
those above mentioned.
Signed R. Matson, Sup't."
Another clue to duties was reported in the 1860 Board of Public Works Annual Report when the Ohio
Legislature passed a law that stated "No lock-tender shall hereafter be appointed except at bulkheads or
feeder locks." The superintendent replied to this by reporting: On the passage of this law, each and
every lock-tender was promptly discharged on this division, except those authorized to be appointed by
this act, and no one has been employed to discharge the duty of lock-tender and paid for such services
under any other name.
The economical policy which governed the Legislature in the passage of this law, was a mistaken one:
no engineer, superintendent, or other person connected with the canals of this State for any length of
time can be found who, under any circumstances, could possibly justify it.
A person in charge of each lock is indispensably necessary for hasty and prompt passage of boats, and
for the safety of the locks and gates. Far more damage will yearly be done to the locks on the line of te
canals by reckless and careless boatmen than the expense attending the employment of suitable persons
to take charge of the locks; to say nothing of the damages resulting to owners of boats by detention, and
the carelessness of leaving wickets open, thereby drawing off the level above, and not unfrequently so
reducing the water as to prevent the passage of boats, until the level can again be filled."
2
Another look into the life of a lock tender and his family is shown in a newspaper article in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette on November 19, 1936 where Mrs. Sarah Ella Benadum Horn was interviewed in her
lock house in Lockville, Ohio. Mrs. Horn reported that her husband at the time was John E. Benadum
and tended the nine locks of Lockville from 1891 until the canal closed in 1913. Prior to that her father
George Benadum, a Civil War veteran and a tanner by trade, was the lock tender here. She stated:" No
matter how hard it was raining or storming, when we would hear a boat begin to "whistle" as it came
around the bend above the locks, we had to go out and let it through." When her husband was not at
home, Mrs. Horn would attend to the nine locks by herself.
Mrs. Horn resided in the our-room lock house continuously from 1891 and raised her ten children there.
After the canal was closed, the Benadums leased the house from the State of Ohio. They continued to
live near the guard lock and cut stone dam there.
While I have read interviews with old canal boatmen who said that the lock tenders did not operate locks
after the canals were returned to the State in 1877, there is information that they did continue that practice in some areas of the State. Probably their duties varied in each section of the canal system.
The pay was low as a lock tender and so most families tried to find other methods to augment their income. Some raised large gardens and sold fresh vegetables to passing boat captains and others tended
horses or mules if they were close to a place where a state repair crew kept their boats and animals.
Some had a second trade that they could practice during slow times on the canal.
Detailed reports of lock tender location were not provided by the Board of Public Works until 1858 so
earlier listings of names do not provide location of assignment or other pertinent details. Also, there
does not seem to be any reports of locations of lock tenders during the years that the ―Lessees‖ controlled the canal system in Ohio.
Lockhouses
On the Ohio canal system, lock houses were built shortly after the section of the canal construction was
finished. Usually the Superintendent determined where he wanted to station a lock tender, took enough
land for a small lot near the lock and then hired a local contractor to build a small single story house.
In 1839, $6650 was given to contractors to build lock houses, a significant amount of money in those
days. Unlike some other canal systems, Ohio's lock houses designs seemed to vary significantly from
one to another. Most of them were built of wood and had about four rooms. Not every lock tender had
a lock house. In 1855, the Southern Division was from Licking Dam at the Black Hand all of the way
to Portsmouth. There were seventy-four locks, one reservoir, eleven feeders, fourteen aqueducts, twelve
dams, five tow path bridges, seventy-eight stone culverts, sixteen wooden culverts, ten waste gates,, sixteen lock houses, five tool houses and twenty-five lock tenders. From this, one can see that nine lock
tenders did not have a state-provided lock house. Some were provided some rental monies to offset
the fact that they did not have a house provided.
In 1850 the State spent $1800.00 on lock houses on the Ohio Canal. In 1853 many of the lock houses
were thoroughly repaired and repainted on the southern division of Ohio Canal.
In 1910, The Ohio Bureau of Uniform Accounting in the State’s Auditor’s Office questioned the Ohio
Attorney General’s Office about the Board of Public Works paying rent for lock houses at various sites
around the state.. The Ohio Attorney General issued an opinion on December 12, 1910 saying that‖ …
records on file indicate that from the beginning it was the policy of the State either to own houses for
their locktenders or to lease houses in the name of the State, the use of which houses was given to the
3
locktenders free of charge in addition to their salaries. Prior to leasing of the public works in 1861 most
of the locktenders of the State lived in lock houses owned by the State.
That this policy of providing locktenders with homes at lockhouses adjoining their posts of duty was
continued since the public works were recovered from the lessees in 1878, is shown by a perusal of the
annual reports of the board of public works. ― A number of examples were given by the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office. The opinion goes on saying:‖And the fact that the board of public works during all
these years made separate provision for rent of lockhouse showed that in their opinion it was advantageous to the state to make such arrangements rather than to permit the various locktenders to make individual provisions for securing homes in which to live. I believe, therefore, that it is legal for the board
of public works to pay the rent for such lockhouses in addition to the salary stipulated in their resolution
employing a locktender.‖
From comments in the Board of Public Works Annual Reports, the Division Superintendents must have
ignored any maintenance requirements on the lock houses. There are numerous comments about how
they needed to be rebuilt and, in some cases, the houses were torn down and a new building was constructed.
In 1881, the lock houses of the Miami and Erie Canal’s Division Two had become almost untenable and
repairs and painting were required and $400 was spent.
In 1883, the Miami and Erie lock house in sub-dvision 2 received repairs in the amount of $200.
4
Lock houses
1835 Canal Commission Annual Report– $1076.00 was paid to contractors to build lock
houses.
BPW—1839: ―An expenditure of $6,650,000 was made to contractors for building lockhouses.‖
1840– Construction of lock houses this year.
1841- ―The total cost of the Ohio Canal, as stated in the last annual report of the board, was the
aggregate of payments on account of construction, up to November 15, 1840 and included
every expenditure for original work, such as construction additional reservoirs and feeder,
erecting lock houses, and payments for lands taken for reservoirs, feeders, lock houses and for
hydraulic purposes.‖
1912—All sights on the canal are now called ―patrolmen‖ and do not tend locks.
LOCKTENDERS:
On The Ohio & Erie Canal
Ohio Canal Commission Annual Report of 1828– Page 19 shows costs paid for lock house lots.
1828, Page 7—These improvements, together with the regulating weirs for passing water round the
locks, have enabled us to dispense with regular lock tenders, and consequently to avoid a heavy item of
expense, where the locks are so numerous as they are on that part of the canal.
Report of the Spring Creek & Bald Eagle Canal - 1835.
A privately financed Canal from the West Branch (Susquehanna) Canal to Bellefonte, PA
in Centre County. (sent to T.K. Woods by Earl J. Heydinger – January, 1973)
―The attention of the President of the Board has been specially into the subject of dispensing with lockhouses and lock-tenders and compelling the captains and commandants of boats to open and shut the
locks and gates, as is done on the public works in the State of Ohio.
―Steps have been taken to collect information and carefully to examine the subject. It is believed, that an
authority being given the Legislature for the Company to make by-laws and all proper and necessary
rules and regulations, a system can be abolished (especially on this canal where almost every one who
navigates it is interested in it’s preservation,) which negates a large expense. It is hoped that the Company can, if proper and necessary powers are allowed, establish a, . . . . . . . . ―
……
Board of Public Works Reports:
1838– During years 1832, 1833, and 1834 the lock tenders were paid by the collectors, which accounts for the great difference there is between the sums of collected and apid into the treasury in
those years.
For the year 1841: ―The total cost of the Ohio Canal, as stated in the last annual report of the board, was
the aggregate of payments on account of construction, up to November 15, 1840, and included every
5
expenditure for original work, such as constructing additional reservoirs and feeders, erecting lock
houses, and payments for lands taken for reservoirs, feeders, lock houses, and for hydraulic purposes.
For the year 1860: ―The last General assembly passed a law that ―No locktenders shall hereafter be appointed except at bulkheads or feeder locks.‖ On passage of this law, each and every locktender was
promptly discharged from this division, except those authorized to be appointed by this act, and no one
has been employed to discharge the duty of locktender and paid for such services under any other name.
The economical policy which governed the Legislature in the passage of this law, was a mistaken one;
no engineer, superintendent, or other person connected with the canals of this State for anylength of
time can be found who, under any circumstances, could justify it.
A person in charge of each lock is indispensably necessary for the hasty and prompt passage of boats,
and for the safety of the locks and gates. Far more damage will yearly be done to the locks on the line
of canals by reckless and take charge of the locks; to say nothing of the damages resulting to owners of
boats by detention, and the carelessness of leaving wickets open, thereby drawing off the level above,
and not unfrequently so reducing the water as to prevent the passage of boats, until the level can again
be filled.―
Interview between Nancy Lonsinger and Ben Lundenberger, Nov. 8, 1973.
Nancy: I thought that locktenders – took care of the locks.
Ben: No. No, they never took care of the locks. They – all they done was , take care of the weeds, ya
know, or come along and get the brush out of the gates. The north gates, Ya know, that’s where all the
flow come. - - - . There was a house right down here at lock 8. That’s where the locktender for them
four locks lived.
1908– Annual Report James Aylward paid $8 for locktender house rent at Lockland
1908-Annual Report J. W. Gorman paid $6 for locktender house rent at Crescentville
1879– 95
1880– 95
1898– 78
1901- 83
1902– 78
1903- 82
1904- 73
1905- 60
1906- 56
1907- 53
1908- 53
1909- 51
1912– 0 all patrolmen
1860 –Southern Division of Miami and Erie Canal
The law restricting the Board in the appointment of lock-tenders to ―bulkhead and feeder locks’ only, it
was soon manifest, if strictly observed, would work serious evil on the business of the Miami and Erie
Canal. There are between Loramie Summit and Defiance, and between Junction and the State Line,
forty two wooden locks, a large portion of them in so frail and decayed a condition as to justify the apprehension that, by carelessness or neglect on the part of boatmen, such damage might accrue at any mo6
ment as to cause serious interruption to navigation, and consequent loss of revenue. The abandonment
of a portion of these wooden locks to the exclusive control of the boatmen, would most certainly have
resulted in breaking down the gates long before new ones could be provided; also, causing by their habit
of leaving wickets open, for the benefit of descending boats, a constant fluctuation in the different levels,
and endangering the embankments, therefore, the engineer and superintendents have been permitted to
adopt such plan as might be deemed necessary to prevent injury to locks, and detention to navigation, at
as little cost as possible. Men have, therefore, been employed to see the locks daily. In some cases a
single lock was placed in charge of one person, at low wages; in others, two or three locks, at higher
wages. Those so employed are required to notice all portions of the canal in their districts, repair small
breaches, and give notice to the superintendent whenever an emergency may arise requiring his presence
on any part of his division, and also to protect the canal from the abuses too often practiced by the occupants of water power at the locks, in drawing down the levels for the benefit of their mills, so as to retard
the progress of boats. Although no lock-tenders of the class prohibited have been appointed, in effect
lock-tenders have been employed by the superintendents; yet, on the whole, the object of the Legislature
has, to some extent, been attained. The expenses have been somewhat diminished in this branch of the
service. If, however, the canals are to be kept in a condition to invite business instead of repelling it, it
must not be expected that any material amount can be curtailed from the former cost of protecting the
locks.
7
Locktenders During Lessee Operation of Ohio Canals
The public documents of the State do not reveal how locktending was dealt with by the group of men
who leased and operated the canal system in Ohio. It does appear that they found that the way that the
legislature cut the manpower to only ―bulkheads and feeder locks‖ was in error and they not only increased the number of locktenders to those numbers before the cut (although maybe not at the same locations) but also increased the number above that level. With the increased number of tenders, they
paid for rental of houses instead of building new lockhouses. If documents are ever found revealing the
operations by the Lessees, it will be interesting to find their view of locktending. The state continued
paying rent for locktenders after taking over operation in 1878.
8
OHIO CANAL
1842 on Ohio & Erie Canal
In 1842, the Board of Public Works provided a listing of the locktenders on the Ohio Canal but
no location assignments were provided with the listing. The list is as follows:
Isaac Baldwin
George Hower
A. Proctor
Wm. Baker
Thos. French
N. Stewart
S. Hogsden
T. Gonder
Isaac Smart
Wm. Creasy
James Armstrong
A. Carr
John Murphey
John Cass
Aaron Frazier
Peter Musser
Robert Bateman
Samuel Burnett
D. D. J. Hard
Z. Pipler
L. Pipler
T. Brown
T. W. Harris
M. Eggleston
M. Signer
J. Wider
R. Jett
J. Montz
D. B. White
W. Allen
James Bryan
W. Blackwell
John Smith
E. Williams
J. Paul
R. Paul
John Gotschall
S. Simpson
J. L. Newman
H. Adams
B. Hayward
E. Jones
C. Jeras
9
OHIO’S CANAL LOCKKEEPERS
OHIO & ERIE CANAL
Cleveland Locks
Lock 42 –Cleveland 3 Mile/River/Weigh
Lock (after 1872)
Lock house was 40 x 42 2 story frame.
T. Harvey (1878-1882) 45.00/MO
T. Harvey (1884-1886) 15/mo
S. E. Gordon (1887-1894)
Figure 1.The locktender’s house was near Lock 42 in
Cleveland. The boat is the Sophia. The weigh lock
was relocated to a site near here in 1851. This photo is
C. 1900.
Lock 40– Cleveland 8 Mile Lock–
Lock house is 22 X28
Lot is transferred to State in 1834.
E. Truly (1858)
Terrence Harvey (1858-1860)-250.00/yr
Note:
No locktender is shown after 1860 at this location.
10
LOCK 36/Brecksville-PINERY FEEDER ($20.00/Mo.)/17 MILE LOCKThis lock house was torn down and a new house was built in 1880.
James Lamb (1858-1860) 26/mo
A. Andrew (1860)
R. J. Morrison (1878-1879)
Jas. Nelson (1882)
C. Burns (1884) 20/mo
Johnson Owery (1885-1886)
James M. Hall (1887)
Chas. W. Lewis (1890-1895)
Claude Duley (1898),
Irwin Murphy (1902-1910)
Brecksville Station from bridge, Chaffee 1876
Pinery Dam and header gate C. 1930
11
SUMMIT COUNTY
Lock 32 BOSTON
From Henry Howe’s Account Books:
March-December 1827.
Daniel Davis drowned in the lock at Boston on the night of the 3rd. (of July) after being in my company
2 ½ days attending said lock at $1.00 per day - $2.50 to be paid to the Township Trustees.
(Woods’ notes: The 3rd of July referred to above was the day on which the first boat ran
on the Ohio Canal. The boat started in Akron and had just passed the lock when the
locktender drowned.)
EVERETT ( $20.00/MO)Johnny Cake/Lock27
Ken Chamberlain (1886-1895)
Chas. Lewis (1898-1910)
B. Duncan (1878-1880)
B. Duncan (1885)
Ken Chamberlin (1887)
12
Peninsula Feeder Lock 30
John McGotty (1858-1860)
PENINSULA ($20.00/MO)- LOCK 29
John McGrotty (1858-1859) 22/mo
Jno. Wells (1878-1879)
C. Savacol (1882)
Orrin Markham (1884-1886) 20/mo
L. Seeley (1885)
David Savacool (1887)
A. J. Savacol (1890)
Wm. Mackey (1892)
Wm. Mackey (1893)
(1893-Lime Broughten appointed to replace Wm. Mackey who is removed)
Lime Boughton (1895-1898),
L. Seeley (1902-1910)
13
LOCK 24 (NILES LOCK) YELLOW CREEK
Sold to State in 1859.
Henry Monroe (1858-1860)-22/mo
Chas. Lewis (1908) 20/mo
14
AKRON UPPER LOCKS ($45.00/MO)
1882- A good tool house and stable was built here.
Lewis Campbell (1886)
W. H. Welton (1890-1894)
Wm. Mahoney (1894)
A. E. Stewart (1892-1893)
Wm. McFarland (1895-1898),
Dan Kelley (1902-1903)
Chas. Savacool (1908-1910) 25/mo)
Akron Locktenders (1858-1859)
D. Allen (264/yr)
J. B. Dreshell (264/yr)
J.R. McGinn (264/yr)
Wm. Merritt (360/yr)
In 1859, all got 22/mo
Akron Locktenders (1860)
Jno. McGuire 22/mo
Wm. Merritt 30/mo
Robt. McGwin 22/MO
J. R. Dowshell 22/mo
Akron Locktenders (1880)
John Flower
Wm. Baker
John Hanscome
John Gifford
Akron Locktenders (1879)
E. Hoagland
Wm. Baker
H. H. Brown
Harry Brown
Akron Locktenders (1878)
Wm. Baker
E. Hoagland
H. H. Brown
Harry Brown
Akron Locktenders (1884)
James Nelson 20/mo
Wm. Baker 25/mo
M. B. Purdy 20/mo
Akron Locktenders (1885)
L. Campbell (1885)
Wm. Baker (1885)
Akron (1887)
15
W.E. Walton
William Baker
AKRON LOWER LOCKS ($25,00/MO)
Wm. Baker (1886)
S. Weaver (1892)
H. H. Welton (1892)
E. Stewart (1893-1894)
Wm. S. McFarland (1894)
Wm. Mahoney (1898- 1903)
John Reed (1908-1910) (35/mo)
ALL AKRON LOCK ($45.00/MO)
John Flowers (1881)
Wm. Baker (1881-1882
James Nelson (1882)
M. B. Purdy (1882)
C. Norris (1881)
Chas. Savacool (1906)
AKRON RESERVOIR ($5.00/MO)
Wm. A. Warner (1885-1887,1892-1903)
Selam Woods (1906)
16
Summit Lakes Feeder Services—Long Lake Guard Lock (?) ($10.00/MO)
Louis Young of Young’s Hotel (1902-1903)
Akron Summit Level Lock 1, WOLF’S CREEK ($5.00/MO)
Not shown in 1898
Wm. Hubblinger(1902-1910)(6.00/mo)
17
STARK COUNTY
Lock 3
CLINTON ($20.00/MO)
Nicholas Smith (1858-1859)
(1859, 25/mo)
S. Leonard (1879-1881)
J. Nureamer (1882)
Eli Basnacht(1884) 25/mo
Nick Smith (1885-1887,1892-1894)
Henry Davis (1894-1898),
Ed Williams (1902-1903)
S. P. Wygandt (1906)
Lock 5—MASSILLON ($6.00/MO)
Geo. Shaffer (1878-1879) (20.00/mo)
John Dominett (1880)
Henry Lanz (1895-1898)
George Roan (1902-1903)
W. M. Ridwell (1906)
18
Lock 6– NAVARRE ($15.00/MO)
John Shearer(1895)(6.00/MO)
John Bailes (1898)
H. D. Garver (1902-1903)
LOCK 7-BOLIVAR ($20.00/MO)
Jessee Updegraff (1878-1879)
John Smart (1880)
J. Nureamer (1881-1884)
G. F. Freidli (1908-1910)
19
Lock 10– ZOAR ($20.00)
1882– A new lock house was built here.
Jacob Rhinehard (1858)
P. Rosenbaugh (1858-1860)-22/mo
N. Baker (1860)
Samuel McCreary (1885)
Samuel Marks (1886)
I. Brickmaker (1887)
Wm. Smart (1890)
John Voshall (1892-1895)
Jonas Bury (1898-1903)
Lock 15—TRENTON ($20.00/MO)
Lock house is 28 x 14.
Benj. Blickensderfer (1858-1860) -264/yr
Jno. Smart (1878-1879)
Jos. Collins (1880-1882)
John Eller (1884-1890)
John W. Bowsher (1892-1898)
Wm. Lovell (1902-1910)
20
Trenton Feeder Guard Lock (Tuscarawas Feeder) (5.00/MO)
John Elder (1885)
Chas. Climes (1902-1903) Services
Lock 21—NEWCOMERSTOWN (20.00/MO)
Sheldon Dickerson (1908-1910)
21
Lock 26 & 27 ROSCOE 264/yr.
House size is 54 x 24
R. Stuart (1858-1859)
D. McCarthy (1858)
22
Walhonding Feeder 14.50/mo
Robert Stewart (1860)
C. Miller (1884) 20/mo
MUSKINGUM COUNTY
Lock 25– ADAMS MILLS ($20.00/MO)
House was only 28 x 15
Lot transferred to State in 1827.
James Murphy (1858-1859) 264/yr
Edwin Porter(1878-1882)
W. Anderson (1881) $12/mo
Elmer Porter (1882-1885)$12/mo
Wm. Mills (1886-1887)12/mo
W. H. Everhart (1890-1893)
William Smart (1894-1910)
23
FRAZEYSBURG ($10.00/MO)
W. B. Pryor (1858-1859) 264/yr
H. Ross (1878-1884) ($12/mo)
Theo. Lackey (1886-1887) (12/mo)
John Lackey (1892)
Theo. Lackey (1893-1895) (15.00/mo)
DRESDEN ($10.00/MO)
H. Cochran (1858-1859) 264/yr
T. B. Cresap (1860)
Washington Miller (1860)
E. J. Rambo (1878) was toll collector and lock tender
Wm. S. Shore (1906-1910)
24
LICKING COUNTY
Black Hand Guard Lock/Licking Dam
W. Pinney (1858-1859) 240/yr
O. Z. Hillory (1859)
H. McVickers (1859)
John Erwin (1859)
Wm. Richardson (1860-1861)
J. W. Richardson (1878-1890)20/mo
John Richardson (1892-1895)
Lock 14 Rocky Fork
D. Dowling (1858) 240/yr
W.H. Dowling (1859) 20/mo
S. Doyle (1858) 264/yr
25
Lock 10– White Mill at Newark
P. Hefner (1858-1859) 264/yr
Samuel Swetchard (1859)
NEWARK
L. J. Haughey (1860)
S. G. Arnold (1860)
John Bermon (1887) 25/mo
John Bremen (1890-1895)
NOTE: Bermon and Bremen are probably same
Person misspelled by Bd. Of Public Works
26
Lock 1 TAYLORS
Building on lot at time of survey is shown as 12 x 14 and must have been a tool shed.
Samuel Keenan (1858-1859) 200/yr
(note:In 1859, name is Keeran)
Lock 5 (Lockport)
Andrew Blaney (1858-1859) 200/yr
Jno. Hamilton (1878-1879)
S. Smith (1880-1881)
G. W. Andrews (1882-1884) 20/mo
Burgis Twigg (1885)
27
KIRKERSVILLE FEEDER (20.00/MO)
Benj. Brakebill (1878-1879)
B. Brakebill (1880)
G. A. Burkett (1881-1882)
James Comstock (1884) 20/mo
A.J. Spurgeon (1886-1887)25/mo
LICKING FEEDER ($25.00/MO)
John A. Spurgeon(1892-1906)
E.L. Benner (1908-1910)(40.00/MO)
28
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Minthorn Lock—LICKING RESERVOIR ($15.00)
No lock house information is known.
B. Johnson (1858-1860) 200/yr
1859, $16 2/3/mo
J. Webb (1858)
B. Johnson (1861) 16.66 2/3/mo
J. W. Webb (1878-1880)
H. H. Pope (1881-1884)
R. Haltaberry (1885)
Benj. Brakebills (1885)
E. Holtsburg (1886) 18/mo
Isaiah Hall (1887-1890)19/mo
John Hall (1892-1893)
A. Z. McCann (1894)
Wm. Avery (1895)
Benjamin Richards (1898-1906)
In August 1908 E. L. Benner is classed as collector and tender at Buckeye Lake and then in
Sept. 1908 he is listed as patrolman
In 1909, lock house was rebuilt here
DEEP CUT (This was labeled as Deep Cut but was probably Pugh’s Lock)
Richard Paul (1858-1860) 200/yr
Jacob Paul (1860-1861) 16.66 2/3 /mo
29
Lock 3– BALTIMORE ($15.00)
Lock house was 18 x 24 with 10 x 10 attachment.
William McDonnell (1858) 200/yr
James Bryan (1858)
F. G. Littlejohn (1859)-16 2/3/mo
George Holden *(1878-1880)
A. Brown (1881-1882)
D. D. Richardson (1884) 20/mo
James Paul (1885)
Levi Wagner (1886–1904)
(1895-20.00/mo)
No tenders after 1904 listed in Annual Reports
*May be Holder
Lock 10 Carroll
J. P. Guttellius (1859)
Wm. Donnell (1859)
No one shown in 1860 or 1861
Dick Gorham (1878) was toll collector and lock tender
Note: No lock tender is shown after 1878 but Dick Gorham
Is collector and probably serves as tender also.
30
Lock 11 (Pre-1860) - Lockville Upper Lock
1898- Old Lock house was torn down and rebuilt on berme bank at Carroll for a tool house.
D. Smith (1858)
James Bryant (1859)
George Benadum (1881-1882)
Little Walnut Creek Guard LockLockville
Lock
house was 24 x 14 frame house that had
four rooms.
Had small tool shed at rear.
William Hesser (1857-1861)16.66 2/3/mo
James Bryant (1858)-20/mo
William Hesser (1859-1860) 200/yr
George Benadum (1878-1892)
John E. Benadum 1891—1913 )
1 July 1851- The locks at Lockville were
manned with double sets of locktenders, to be on
duty each alternate six hours, with a view to
keep the gates of these locks all shut, so as to
economize in the use of the water all that was
possible.
31
on
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Lock 20 (Pre-1860) West of Canal Winchester(16.66 2/3/
MO)
House was 24 x 18 frame..
Henry Hesser (1857-1859)
Lock 28 (Pre–1860)-Lockbourne
F. X. Roth (1857-1859)16.662/3/mo
32
Lock 30- LOCKBOURNE ($25.00/MO)
M. B. Thompson (1857-1859)
A. F. Miles (1857-1859)
G. W. Degroff (1857-1861)16.66 2/3/mo
(also shown as Degraff)
S. F. Jones (1878-1879) (15.00/mo)
Thos. Rowe (1880)
James Rowe (1881-1884)
Sam. Jones (1885-1887)
Wm. Vallett (1890-1903)
1853– A new lock house was built on the west bank of Big Walnut Creek, near Lockbourn.
33
COLUMBUS FEEDER
Lock 2 or 4 Mile Lock(Columbus Feeder) (8.33/MO)
B. Tressenrider (1857-1860)
E. Shuflin (1858)
N. H. Newcomb (1861)8.33/mo
J. Wolf (1879-1880) (10.00/MO)
E. Fisher (1881-1884) $10/mo
In 1878 J. L. McElvaine was toll collector in downtown Columbus and the locktender on the Columbus Feeder
34
PICKAWAY COUNTY
Little Walnut Creek Guard Lock (MILLPORT) ($10.00/MO)
Thos. J. Curtis (1857-1860)
William Green (1857-1859) (16.662/3/MO)
Wm. Hessor (1858)
E. Stitt (1861)
John Hayes (1878-1884) (15.00/MO)
R.H..Johnson (1885)
Sam F. Jones ((1890-1894)
Louis A. Sprouse (1887-1894) 15/mo
Henry Wells (1898-1903)
HOLMES 264/yr
Robt. Hamilton (1858-1859)
35
Lock 32 (CIRCLEVILLE) ($15.00/MO)
B. Bechtel (1840) 15/mo
John Pennington (1857-1861) (16.662/3/MO)
Benj. Beckett (1878-1879) 15.00/mo
B Bechtell (1880-1884)
D. Beck (1881-1890,1892-1894)
Sam Jones (1893)
Wm. Paster (1898-1903)
Geo. Rettig (1908-1910 )(10.00/mo)
36
Lock 33 (CIRCLEVILLE DAM) ($15.00/MO)
Lock house size 24x 18.
William Kuhns (1857-1861) (16.662/3/MO)
J. C. O’Ryan (1861)
Adam Hartman(1878-1880, 1882-1885)
William Murphy (1881)
C. Morris (1886-1894)15/mo
G. Rettig (1894)
D. Beck (1893)
(Geo. Reddig appointed to fill C. Morris vacancy in 1893)
George Rettig (1895-1898)
J. W. Koch (1902-1906)
ROSS COUNTY
Lock 38 (CHILLICOTHE) ($15.00/MO)
Lot transferred to State 3/9/1833.
John McCollister (1857-1859) (16.662/3/MO)
Nothing shown in 1860
Jno. Colson (1878-1879)
George Hall (1881-1894)
John Colson (1885)
John Cook (1895-1898)
M. Renner (1902-1903)
37
Lock 41 (Three Locks)(15.00/MO)
Tomlinson’s Dam
R. C. Philley (1857-1860)
Phillip Smith (1860-1861)18/mo
W. W. Crow (1878—1880)
William Vallett (1880—1884)
E. Jones (1881—1884)
John George (1885)
M. Coon ( 1884—1886)
George Brown (1886—1892)
Wm Musteen (1892—1893)
(Jesse Barnett appointed to fill Musteen vacancy in 1893)
James Barnett ( 1893—1900)
H. Langhen (1898)
Willis Hughes ( 1900—1902)
Henry Langhen(1902—1909)
D. H. McDaniel (1909—1913)(10.00/MO)
LOCKS 39/40 LUNBECK’S LOCKS (13.00/MO)
Jesse C. Giles (1857-1859)
James Miller (1858)
38
Higby Guard Lock ($15.00/MO)
Head of Big Bottom
J. N. Stratton (1857-1860) (16.66 2/3 /MO)
Peter arnes (1860)
Peter Comes (1861) 18/mo
Jno. Swires (1878—1880)
E. James (1881-1882)
James Covitt (1883—1884)
Jno. Swires (1884—1886)spelled Sawyer in 1884
A. Melton ( 1886—1900)
J. Swires (1893-1895)
Jesse Barnett (1898)
E.W. McMillan (1900—1904)
PIKE COUNTY
Lock 44 (WAVERLY) ($10.00/MO)
1895-15.00/MO)
John Reiley (1839—1860)
Thomas Davis (1878—1892)
Benjamin Lewis (1890-1900) 15/mo
J. W. Swires (1892—1893)
F. M. Lewis (1898)
Hugh Scott (1900—1902)
Jacob Davis (1902—1904)
39
SCIOTO COUNTY
Lock 49 BRUSH CREEK ($16.662/3 /mo)
George Ewrit (1857-1859)
LOCK 50 UNION MILLS or Unionville($20.00)
Ezra Jeffords (1857-1859)
George Whitt (1861)
Jas. Davey (1878-1879) 25.00/mo
Jonah Jeffords (1882-1890) 20/mo*
Geroge Whitt (1885)
F. M. Temple (1892-1903)
* Last name shown as Jefferies in 1887
40
MUSKINGUM CANAL
MUSKINGUM COUNTY
Zanesville (Muskingum) (17.00)
Locktenders
Geo. Hawn (1842) (22.00/MO*
Jno. Reed (1878-1879) 10.00/mo)
George Schrack (1857-1887)
Claude Neff 1932—1939 (from Zanesville Signal of
11/18/1939)
TAYLORSVILLE (15.00/mo)
John Colerick (1842)- 22.00/MO*
James Shirley (1857-1860)
H. J. Blake (1861) 17/mo
Wm. Taylor (1878-1879) bridge-6.00/mo
Jas. Shurley (1878-1879) lock-18.00/mo
Wm. Tegner (1880) (bridge)(6.00/MO)
J. Schurley (1880) (lock)(18.00/mo)
D. Sullivan (1881-1882)(bridge) $6/mo
W.E. Stone (1881-1884) lock $18/mo
James Shurley (1885)
Joseph Peach (1884) bridge 6/mo
C. Hock (1886-1887) bridge
Alfred Kincaid (1886-1887)
Eagleport
Harry Lucas (1861-1885)
Nelson Dever (1886-1887)
41
Philo (Muskingum)
Albert A. Sheppard 1887(?) - 1931
MORGAN COUNTY
McConnellsville (20.00/MO)
O. Shannon (1842)-22.00/mo*
James Hill (1857-1860)
Jarvis Kirby (1860)
James B. Kisley (1858)
James Kirby (1857-1859)
Thos. Davis (1861)
Chas. Hill (1878-1880)
W. S. Bell (1881)
Benj. Tompkins (1882-1887)25/mo
Irven Travis 1887—1913
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
42
Rokeby (Muskingum) (20.00/MO)
Alex Paxton (1842)- 22.00/MO*
S. Dunnington (1857-1859)
D. H. Powers (1861) 20/mo
T. Weber (1857-1860)
Lewis Shipley (1857-1860)
Jno. Anderson (1878-1879)22.00/mo
Wm. Stone (1880)
N.H. Dever (1881-1884)$22/mo
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
MUSKINGUM CANAL
SYMMES CREEK (15.00/MO)
John Crowley (1842) - 22.00/mo*
William Stokes (1857-1861)
Geo. Schrack (1878-1879)25.00/mo
B. F. Kinney (1880-1884)$10/mo
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
43
WINDSOR/ Stockport (17.00/MO)
J. C. Cain (1842)-22.00/mo*
Elery Duvall (1857-1860)
E. Devol (1861) 20/mo
G. Johnson (1878-1880)
S. Merrill (1881-1884)-$20/mo
Hugh Gormley (1885)
Abram Hayes (1886-1887)
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
Luke Chute (17.00/mo)
T. Buchanan (1842)- 22.00/mo*
Henry Leget (1857-1860)
H. Leggett 1861(17/mo)
Allen Nickerson (1878-1881) (20.00/MO)
C. G. Anderson (1882-1887)
J. W. Phillips (1885)
L.L. Robinson 1912—1939 (from Zanesville Signal of 11/18/1939)
Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
44
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Beverly (17.00/MO)
Daniel McCarthy (1842) -22.00/mo*
John Henderson (1842)*
Samuel Nickels (1857)
L. B. Harnood (1858)
Samuel Nichols (1858-1860)
J. Winstanley (1861)
J. Krigbaum (1878-1885) (20.00/MO)
John Lansley (1886-1887)
A. P. ―Tony‖ Snow 1915—1939(from Zanesville Signal of 11/18/1939)
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
Lowell (17.00/MO)
John Browns (1842) 22.00/mo*
A. Crane (1857-1859)
Wm. G. Crane (1860-1861)
Conrad Hopp (1878-1880) (20.00/MO)
C. Hupp (1885)
Robt. Griggs (1881-1887) $20/mo
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
45
Devol’s (20.00/MO)
1853– site prepared for lock house
Frank Duval (1842) 22/mo
James Ward (1857-1861)15/mo
Isaac Dobbins (1878-1881
Ezra Davis (1882-1884)
Benj. Bragg (1886-1887)
Wm. Armstrong (1885)
Don Savage 1914—1939 (from Zanesville Signal of 11/18/1939)
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
HARMAR/Marietta (22.00/MO)
James Monroe (1842) *
C. Krigbaum (1857-1861)
Chas Stump (1878-1879) 20.00/mo
Daniel Stump (1880-1885) (20.00/MO)
Jacob Carpenter (1886-1887)
*Includes boarding expense. Locktender also takes charge of repair hands in gravelling, protecting and repairing dams and locks.
46
HOCKING CANAL
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
LOCK 1 ( Lancaster) (20.00/MO)
Willis Walters (1857-1859) 20/mo
Robert Fielding (1857, 1859)25/mo
Samuel Brooks (1878-1885)
L. Morton (1886)
Jos. Mahone (1887)
James Mohne (1890-1894)25/mo
Note: In 1878 Dick Gorham of Carroll is toll collector
and lock tender.
Lock 6 CARPENTER’S LOCKS ($18.00/MO)
Joshua Lamott (1857-1882) (12.00/mo1880)
W. Lamott (1884-1885)
Jos. Mahone (1886)
Thomas Wilson (1887-1892)3/mo
47
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
SUGAR GROVE(5.00/MO)
James Prather (1858)
Washington Coles (1878-1881)
G. W. Caley (1882-1884)
E. V. Cranston (1885)*
E. V. Crampton (1886-1887)*
W. J. Deeds (1893-1894)
Probably same person and was misspelled in one
place

48
Buckeye Dam Guard Lock ($3.00/MO)
Jacob Poling (1858)
John Potts (1878-1881)
F. M. Jackson (1882-1886)
E. Beougher (1892-1893)
HOCKING COUNTY
Guard Lock No. 2 (Falls Mills) (10.00/MO)
Thomas Brice (1857-1859)
J. W. Gage (1859)
W. Smith (1858)
Jas. Hanefy (1878-1894)
James Hanefee (1892)
James Hanity (1893) (18/MO)
49
Nelsonville Guard Lock (5.00/MO)
John Kelley (1858)
A. L. Horton (1878-1886)
B. Jos. Beaver (1885)
Thos. Edgeil (1893-1894)
Wolf’s Lock in Hocking Canal
J. Patton (1881) $8/mo) not in 1882
50
SANDY AND BEAVER CANALLOCKS-22/MO
D. W. Black (1859)
WALHONDING CANAL
KNOX COUNTY
Lock 1 and 2 (Walhonding )
E. W. Perry (1878)
F. Walker (1881-1882)
Conrad Mills (1887)
John Ammons (1890-1894)
In1878, Samuel Gardner of Roscoe is toll
Collector and locktender for Walhonding Canal
51
Warsaw State Lot($25.00/MO)
E. W. Perry (1879) 20.00/mo
John Ammons (1892-1894)
52
MIAMI & ERIE CANAL
1842
In 1842, the Board of Public Works provided a listing of the locktenders on the Miami & Erie
Canal but no location assignments were provided with the listing. The list is as follows:
Solomon Newman
Samuel Phares
David Todd
William Gorman
J. Mott
William Early
B. F. Woodruff
S. B. Doty
D. Simpson
B. Buffington
J. Schockley
Robert Porter
Samuel A. Beauchamp
John Smiley
Jacob Rager
O. A. Taylor
Johnathan Kendle
J. Fenstermaker
J. Miller
Dayton to Piqua
Francis Johnson
Unknown Beyman
53
MIAMI & ERIE CANAL
HAMILTON COUNTY
Cincinnati Locktender (15.00/mo)
Mike Smith (1878-1884)
M. McCarthy (1885)
David Young (1886)
Solomon Newman (1840) 20/mo
Cincinnati ($65.00/MO)
A. Buford (1887)
B. Fred Stockbove (1887) (patrolman)
A.Buford (1890) Patrolman
Wm. Mersman (1893-1895) (policeman)
Chas E. Whitehead (1898-1902, 1910) (classified as a policeman)
Chas E. Alexander (1893) (policeman)
54
Locks 44 to 53 $25/mo
Solomon Newman (1840) 20/mo
John S. Jones (1858)
Henry Schmidt (1858-1859)
Hiram Bryant (1859)
LOCK 43 LOWER LOCKLAND
Samuel Phares (1858-1859) 15/mo
55
LOCKLAND (LOCKS 40—42) ($22.00/MO)
Samuel Grismore (1840) 25/mo
D. D. Thayer (1840)
Henry Dubbs (1858) 25/mo
Clark Brecount (1858-1859) (sp Bucount in 1859)25/mo
Jas. Cain (1878-1880) 22.00/mo)
W. Sullivan (1881-1884)
James Cain (1885)
H. N. Skillman (1886-1895)
French Whitehead (1898-1902)
James Alyward (1906-1910)
Rent paid to locktender of 8.00 in1906
Rice Pond (1903)
Lock 36 (Upper Hamilton) ($20.00/MO)
The northern state lot is transferred to the state in 1853 and the southern lot is transferred in
1840.
John Byers (1858)
E. Jacobs (1858)
John Allen (1858)
John Woodruff (resigned on 4/1895)
J. N. Abbot (1880—1906)
Henry Snavely (1887)
56
SOUTH OF HAMILTON (2.50/MO.)
J. N. Abbott (1898 –1906 Classified as a flood gate tender)
Lower HAMILTON Lock 37- (2.50/MO)
John Niederman (1878-1879) 20.00/mo
J. A. Abbott (1880-1887) (20.00/MO) (probably same person)
Daniel Coyle (1885)
J.N. Abbott (1886)
J. N. Abbott (1890-1895,1903, 1906-1910)
Floodgate tender in 1895
J.M. Abbott is shown at Hamilton in 1908 20/mo
57
Lock 34 (Excello)
There are 2 lots owned by State here. The northern one does not have a transfer date while the
southern lot is shown as being transferred May 1, 1839.
John Kyle (1858-1859) 12.50/mo
Henry W. Benson (1858-1859)
58
Lock 39 (CRESCENTVILLE) ($10.00/MO)
T. C. Bramble (1858)12.50/mo
R. T. Waite (1858-1859)
D. C. Donavin (1878-1886)
Wm. Carmichael (1886)
J. P. Logan (1887)
H. D. Allen (1890)
J. W. Gorman (1892-1910)
Rent paid to locktender 6.00/mo
Lock 38 (RIALTO/FRIEND/FOX PAPER MILL) ($10.00/MO)
Ira Hunt (1858) 12.50/mo
W. C. Giguet (1859)13.12 1/2 /mo
Tim Donavin (1878-1880)
Mike McDermott (1882)
John Kentzler (1884)
John Logan (1886)
William Carmichael (1887)
Wm. Richards (1890)
Jno. Messner (1892-1903)
W. H. Messner (1906)
W.H. Kemp (1908-1910)
59
BUTLER COUNTY
LOCK 32 MIDDLETOWN ($10.00/MO
Robert Dine (1858) 12.50/mo
John Sponsler (1858-1859)
Wm. Symms (1859)
G. S. Bracket (1859)
J. McFlinn (1878-1886)
James Bell (1887)
Frank Dun (1890)
Joseph Bell (1893)
Hugh Bell (1893-1895)
Andy Barnickle (1898-1910)
LOCK 33 AMANDA ($18.00/MO)
John Bachman (1858)12.50/mo
Jas. McFlynn (1858-1859)
(shown as J. M. Flynn in 1859)
John Doty (1878-1884)
S. B. King (1885)
Sylvester Fleming (1886-1895, 1898-1910)
60
Butler COUNTY
MIDDLETOWN FEEDER AND DAM ($25.00/MO)
S.A. Beaucamp (1858) 18/mo
Wm. Brewer (1878-1885)
Joseph Bell (1892)
Frank Dine (1886—1910)
Frank Dine (navigation season only)1893, 1903, 1908)
Lock 31 MIDDLETOWN FEEDER ON MIAMI RIVER ($40.00/MO)
(1895-30.00/MO)
WOODSDALE ISLAND ($2.50/MO)
Jas. Lindino (1893-1898 classified as a flood gate tender)
Jacob Rupp (1902-1903)
61
MOUTH OF LORAMIE BULKHEAD
James O. Malay (1878-1879) 6.00/mo
LORAMIE RESERVOIR FEEDER GATE ($10.00/MO)
J. Powell (1878-1883)
Jas. Baley (1885)
Isaac Powell (1880, 1890-1903)
Jacob Powell (1886)
CharlesWidner (1887)
Julius Powell (1906-1910)
62
Lock 14 and six mile reservoir Feeder Gate-15/mo
C. C. Mansfield (1859)
Lock 15 and 16
William Early (1840) 13/mo
63
Lock 8 State Dam at Piqua ($10.00/MO)
Chas. Louts (1910)
Lock 15 (Tippecanoe City)12/mo
A. Cotterell (1858)
John Keem (1858)
John Kiever (1859)
Ira Hunt (1859)
64
Locks 36 and 37 North -16/mo
E, Board (1859)
John Allen (1859)
PORT UNION ($2.50/MO)
Frank Rates (1887)
Thos. Ruettinger (1893-1894)
Thos. Reuttinger (1898—1906 classified as a flood gate tender)
(In 1895 &1906 he was called Theo not Thos.)
65
LOCK 27 SUNFISH LOCK ($15.00/MO)
J. M. Kauffman (1858) 12.50/mo
John Vandeveer (1858-1859)
D. C. Hoch (1878-1882)
Jas. Ingham (1884-1887)
J. L. Day (1890)
John C. Gebhart (1892—1910)
LOCK 28 FRANKLIN ($10.00/MO)
R. C. Brown (1878-1885)
S. Brown (1886)
Michael Schafter (1892 –1902)
J. D. Beatty (1906-1910)
66
Bulkhead and waste gate at Loramie Reservoir-5.00/mo
Thos. McClure (1858-1860)
J. O’Maley (1883)
In 1860, bulkhead only
Jackson Waste Gates or Dawson Waste Gate– 2.00/mo
S. Cronenburg (1858-1859)
Alfred Shafer (1887) 3/mo
67
DWYER’S (?) ($10.00/MO)
Leonard Herzog
68
LOCKINGTON
1881– Lock house received repairs.
Lock 1 (Lockington) ($23.00)
Thomas Dailey (1879) (all 8 locks)
T. Dailey (1880) (all 5 locks)
Chas. Adams (1886-1903)
Locks 1,2, and 3 –22.50/mo
H. S. Humphrey (1858-1859)
Fred Whitby (1858)
J. D. Gardner (1859)
Locks 1 thru 6 in 1910 $23.00/MO)
Joe Avy (1908-1910)
James Burt (1883)
Lock 2
Aaron Ferguson (1840) 12/mo
J. Bowles (1840)
69
Lock 4 & 5 and 6(Lockington) 22.50/mo
Geo. Young(1858)
Fred Whitby (1859)
J. Cullers (1859)
_____ Clark,(1885)
Chas. Adams (1886-1894)
LOCK 5—9/mo
Jacob Ruegger (1840)
Adam L. Houk(1840)
70
Sidney Waste Gate—2.00/mo
John Geer (1858-1859)
Alexander Hall (1887)3/mo
71
SHELBY COUNTY
SUMMIT LEVEL (3.00/MO)
I THINK THIS IS THE GUARD GATE ON SIDNEY FEEDER
A. Conover (1880) (8.00/mo)
John C. Cain (1895) flood gate tender
John Lithicum (1898-1903) he is listed as a flood gate tender
Wm Shaffer (1892,1893, 1906)
Loramie Reservoir Lock & Bulkhead-18.00/mo
James A. Marshall ((1858)
Thos. Cowper (1858)
A. Chester (1858)
Chas. Barrington (1858-1859)
Bailey (1886)
72
LOCK 35 ROCKDALE ($10.00/MO)
J. W. Crow (1858) 12.50/mo
Geo. A. Fielding (1858-1859)
J. Mantz (1859))
Geo. Keiser (1858)
John Zimmerman (1878-1879)
H. List (1880)
D. Minch (1881-1882)
Henry List (1884-1886)
Wm. Hamill (1886-1887)
Daniel Oaks (1890-1893)
Humphrey Campbell (1894-1902)
George McGehean (1903)
J. E. Rupp (1906-1910)
LOCKS 30 (LWR GREENLAND), 31 (DINES) AND MIDDLETOWN FEED
GATE– 20/MO
S. A. Beuchamp (1859-1860)
73
Lock 29 (Upper Greenland)
Locktender’s house dimension is 42 x 16
There is no notation on the plats that there is a state owned lot here.
Joel Rockhill (1858-1859) 12.50/mo
Tended lock 28 & 29
74
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Lock 16 PICAYUNE ($10.00/MO)
Wm. H. Daniel (1858-1859) - 12/mo
John W. Thelabaumer (1878-1879)7.00/mo
Josiah L. Hill (1880(7.00/mo), 1886-1893)
Charles H. Lewis (1894-1903)
Elmer Sheridan (1906-1910)
Lock 21 DAYTON CAR SHOP LOCK ($3.00/MO)
J. M. Taylor (1858-1859)12.50/mo
R. Minich (1902-1903)
Thomas Sherlock (1895-1898)(during nav only)
75
Locks 17- 19 LOCKVILLE’s THREE LOCKS
($10.00/MO)
John Ziegler (1858-1859) 20/mo
Wm. Gantz (1859)
Samuel Hunter (1885-1887)
Ben Dinsmore (1892-1893)
Samuel Hunter (1894—1903)
John Crommes (1906-1908)
LOCK 19- SOUTH Flouring Mill(7.00/MO)
H. Ziegler (1878-1884)
76
DAYTON WASTE GATES ($5.00/MO in 1902, 1.50/MO in 1898)
J. Webber (1890)
Michael Sherlock (1892-1893) ($3.00/MO) During Navigation season only
Michael Hogan (1898)
Chas. Gray (1902)
Wm. Sprow (1903)
Daniel Tehan (1906-1910)(5.00/MO)
Lock 22 Snider’s Mill ($10.00/MO)
Abraham Price (1840) 13/mo
Jos. Fenstermaker (1858-1859) 12.50/mo
(Note: in 1859 spelled Testinmaker)
Fred Leight (1878-1879)
C. Lewis (1880-1886)
Phillip Wentz (1887—1902)
Wm. Sprow (1906-1910)
77
Lock 23 DRYDEN’S MILL ($5.00/MO)
Henry Crisman (1858)
C. Patterson (1858-1859) 12.50/mo
Frank Grudish (1898)
No one shown in 1902
Frank Grundish (1903, 1906)
78
Lock 24 & 25 (Carrollton) (($ 20.00/mo)
Moses Smith (1858-1859) 18/mo
Zebas Kendall (*1878-1887,1890-1895)
Simon Strader (1898-1910)
LOCK 26 MIAMISBURG ($10.00/MO)
John Dicker (1858) 12.50/mo
J. H. Dreher (1859)-12.50/mo
John Dreher (1878-1887)
Jacob Boechtel (1884)
Jno. Dreher (1890–1902)
Martin Dreher (1903)
Wm. Meyers (1906)($20.00/mo)
Wm. Mayers (1908-1910)
79
LOCK 20 DAYTON MAD RIVER ($25.00/MO)
James Michael (1878-1884)
Samuel Hunter (1892-1893)
Mart Dial, Charles Beeler (1894-1895)(flood gate tenders)
John Wood (1898-1910)
Michael Scherlock (1893-1894)
In 1879, the lock house was in a bad condition and was thoroughly repaired and an addition
added for a kitchen.
LOCK 20 AND FEEDER GATES-20/MO
Joseph Line (1858-1860)
In 1860 Bulkhead at Feeder only
John Faniniding (1887)
Dayton
G. T. Mixer (1840) 15/mo
Thos. Roach 1885
John Fleming (1886)
J. Ferneding (1890)25/mo
Lock 16, South
J. L. Hill (1883)
80
Lock 17– Smith’s Distillery
Weaver & Pachtell (1840) 11/mo
R. S. Phares(1840) 11/mo
Lock 18—Distillery
Henry B. Gorman (1840) 10/mo
81
Bulkhead North of Piqua 20/mo
Jas. O. Maley (1860)(1887)
Bulkhead south of Piqua 15/mo
C.C. Mansfield
LOCK 8 –10/MO
Chas Louts (1908)
82
MIAMI COUNTY
Lock 9 (PIQUA) ($10.00/MO)
H. Hennessy (1858)
Fred Hennessy (1858)
Adam Conover (1878-1879)
J. O’Maley (1880) (6.00/MO)
Adam Conover (1885-1894)
James Mabry (1892—1906)
C.F. Thomas (1908)
Lock 10 FARRINGTON’S/STILL HOUSE ($25.00/MO)
George Hemerick (1858)
George Dixon (1892-1910)
Locks 9 and 10 15/mo
Joseph Fenstermacher (1840)
83
Lock 11 ALLEN’S MILL (10.00/MO)
1881– Lock house repaired.
Benjamin Buffington (1840) 9/mo
Lewis D. Douty (1858-1859) 12/mo
Geo. Warner (1878-1883)
Chas. Maley (1885)
James Randel (1886)
TROY FEEDER LOCK ($12.00/MO)
A. Shaffer (1878-1883)
George W. Cain (1887)
A. J. Maley (1890)
Chas H. Lewis (1890-1893)
John Roberts (1895)
Louis Shaffer (1898 -1910)
84
Lock 12 TROY ($3.00/Mo.)
John Kyle, Jr. (1840) 9/mo
David Simpson (1840)
Thomas Ferguson (1840)
John Turner (1840) 9/mo
Chas. Brayman (1840) 8/mo
C. R. Mansfield (1858) 12/mo
J. C. Parton (1858-1859)
John Pertlim (1859)
Albert Shaffer (1885-1886)
James Hale (1902-1903)
No one shown in 1898
Josiah Couch (1906)
1888- A new lockhouse built to replace the old one
removed by Parent Paper Co. who built the new one.
Lock 13 John’s Mills
Saming Doty (1840) 9/mo
C. R. Mansfield (1858)
James McDaniel (1858-1859)15/mo
LOCKS 13 and 14-10/mo
Louis Shaffer (1908)
Lock 14
B. L. Woodruff (1840) 9/mo
85
Lock 14 and Troy Feeder Gates
C. C. Mansfield (1858) 15/mo
LOCK 10 Farrington & Slosson– 14/mo
John Hemmerick (1859)
86
Lock 9 Piqua –15/mo
Joseph Hoke (1840) 9/mo
Daniel Y. Lenwell (1840)
Patrick Scully (1840) 8.33/mo
Frank Henry (1859)
John Hitchell (1859)
Locks 9 and 10
S. Shoeckley (1840) 15/mo
87
Lock 8 and Feeder gate-20/mo
Neil Scully (1859)
J. W. King (1859)
James O’Maly (1859)
Locks 7 and 8
Samuel Beauchamp (1840) 12/mo
John Smiley (1840) 9/mo
Jacob Renegger (1840) 9/mo
Feeder Head Gate
Adam Houk (1840) 8/mo
88
Locks 7, 8 and Feeder Gate– Loramie Mills
Neil Sculley (1858)
PIQUA GUARD GATE ON MIAMI RIVER ($10.00/MO)
Adam Conover (1892-1895)
J. H. Buckner (1898-1902)
F.C. Thomas (1903)
C.F. Thomas (1906-1910)
3 MILES ABOVE PIQUA
James Maley (1886)
89
SIX MILE LEVEL WASTE GATE-20/YR
Saml. Shelley (1859)
Lock 3 and 4
Olley A. Taylor (1840) 13/MO
90
Lock 1 Bremen 12/mo
Philllip Goll (1858-1859)
Lock 2– Flouring Mill 12/mo
E. Thesing (1858-1859)
Lock 3
D. Ashler (1858-1859)
Lock 4—SAW MILL– 12/mo
F. Ininkey (1858)
T. Sweater (1859)
H. Shinelake (1859)
91
Lock 5 North 12/mo
F. Finke (1858-1859)
T. Beekman (1859)
Lock 6 north 12/mo
F. Kittling (1858)
92
LOCKS 6 & 7 AND DRY FEEDER GATES 20/mo
Jas Bryant (1858-1859)
Lock 7 North Landman’s Mill 20/mo
Thos. Wilson (1859)
Lock 8 STONE LOCK 15/mo
Chas. Barrington (1858)
John Fulk (1858)
Frank Culbertson (1858)
T. Spencer (1858)
J.S. Sponsler (1859)
A. Pauppe (1859)
W. Henshen (1859)
93
AUGLAIZE COUNTY
NEW BREMEM LOCK 1THRU 6
($25.00/MO)
E. TESSING (1878-1883)-15.00/MO
E. TUSSING (1880) (20.00/MO)
WM THIEMAN (1892-1902, 1908-1910)
FRED BEHM (1886,1903)
B. THOMPSON (1884)
NEW BREMEN'S HISTORIC LOCK TENDER'S
HOUSE WAS BURNED TO GROUND IN FIREMEN'S SCHOOL
(from The Evening Leader - 2/28, 4/20, 4/29/1968)
A resolution was passed at the January 1968 meeting
of the New Bremen Village Council and Mayor Frank
Dicke giving permission to the Lions Club to "institute
a park and recreational development project" on the
Komminsk tract shortly after the land was donated to
the village by Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Komminsk. The two
buildings on this land were the lock tender's house
(nearest the canal lock), which also served as a hotel
for the boatmen, and the livery stable (located northwest of the house) which was originally used for the
mules that pulled the canal boats.
The livery stable ("Thompson" horse barn), was torn
down by members of the Lions Club and other volunteer help including Lendor Schneider, Jim Schnell,
John Gilberg, and Lee Kuck in February 1968. The
"lean-to" on the south side and much of the siding and
roofing of the large barn were removed on Sunday
afternoon, February 25th. The razing was completed
within the next few weeks, and the contents of the
building and the good salvaged materials were sold at
an auction.
one chimney. From the small windows near the top,
the lock-tender could see the canal boats coming
around the bend and immediately ring a bell to put in
operation the opening and closing of the locks. Taxes
were paid on only half of the house, because it was
built on state property shortly after the locks were constructed in 1839. The last family to live in the house
was the Matthews family. Another family that lived
there for some time was the Herb Gross family.
On Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, 1968, crowds
of people lined the banks of the Miami-Erie Canal near
the area where Lock One was built more than 120
years before to watch the historic lock tender's house
burn to the ground as 203 firemen from 33 departments participated in a training session sponsored by
the Central Western Firemen's Association. Permission had been obtained to do this even though some
thought the house should be restored and preserved. A
60-foot hard maple tree in front of the house was saved
except for a few end branches.
The "Thompson" house, so called because of the last
family who lived there and tended the canal lock, was
2½ stories high and had 14 rooms. The bottom was
built of stone and had a kitchen and wine cellar. The
rest of the house was bedrooms and sitting rooms. It
had oak floors and 4 x 4 oak rafters. There was only
94
LOCKS 9, 10 & 11– 22/MO
Samuel Giddings (1858-1859)
Isaac Powell (1885)
LOCK 6 THRU 11 NORTH OF BREMEN (12.00/MO)
S. Giddings (1878-1883)
95
SIDNEY ($3.00/MO)
Alex Hill (1886) Flood gate tender
Gabriel Duttlinger (1892-1895) Flood Gate Tender
D. Gates (1902-1903) flood gate tender
H. Fair (1898) Flood gates tender
Theo. Gates (1906)
96
PORT Jefferson Sidney Feeder Gate ($10.00)
G. M. Glick (1858-1859) 4.00/mo
J. W. Maxwell (1859-1860)
Sol. Carbaugh (1860)
E. Humble (1860)
G. W. West (1878-1879)
F. Hooland (1880-1883)
G. Apgar (1885
James Staley (1886)
Alfred Staley (1887)
Fred Haverland (1890)
Ben Hine (1892-1903)
Chas. Shafer (1906-1910)
LEWISTON RESERVOIR ($10.00)
Thomas Axtell (1878-1880) (15.00/mo)
Ben Bailey (1883)
C. H. Dix(1883)
James F. Doty (1886)
J.L. Day (1887-1890)
Eli Norviel (1892-1903)
A. O. T. Andrus (1906-1910) ($25.00/MO in 1910)
Summitt Levee
Wm. Shaffer (1893)
97
Lock 3
One state lot was recorded 1849 and the other was recorded 1855.
Lock 4 (5.00/MO)
Jas. Bryan (1880)
98
LOCK 14 North AT ST. MARYS $5.00/MO)
Harry VanPelt (1858)- 16/mo
James R. Byram (1858-1859)
James Bryan (1878-1883)
James R. Byrnum(1885-1903, 1910)
BULKHEAD OF MERCER CTY RESERVOIR –16/mo
C. Barrington (1860)
Charles Mercer (1885)
Chas. Maley (1885)
George Swartz (1893-1894)
99
ST. MARY’S LOCKS 7 AND 11($30.00/MO)
Samuel R. Giddens (1886-1895) ($15.00/MO in 1892, 12.00/MO in 1895)(resigned 10/1/1895)
W. Fosnight (1898-1903)
Weslley McDonald (1893-1894) Patrolman
Lock 9—Tates Landing (2.50/mo)
Joseph Reiniche (1887)
LOCK 11 (5.00/MO)
James R. Byrum (1906)
Locks 12 and 13 at St. Marys (12.00/mo)
John House (1858)-18/mo
John Chester (1858-1859)
John Boyle (1859)
Saml. Kent (1859)
C. Stattler (1878-1879)
J. Schleiting (1880-1883)
Theo. Craft (1885)
Joseph Walters (1886-1887)
Jno. Sclichting (1890-1894)12/mo
100
St. Mary’s Grand Lake Feeder ($12.00/MO)
Also called Feeder at Grand Reservoir
George Swartz (1885-1894) Patrolman in 93-94
John Schelesing (1892-1895)
A. M. Trowbridge (1903)
Mrs. A. M. Trowbridge (1906-1910)
101
SIX MILE RESERVOIR AND FEEDER 20/MO
H. Brubocker (1860)
J. P. Pocock (1860)
102
ST. MARY’S State Lots
Canal Patrolman ($60.00/mo)
Wesley McDonald (50.00/mo) (1892-1895)
Wesley McDonald (1898-1906)
C. F. Lindall (1910)
St. Mary’s Bulkhead Lock (Mercer County?) ($12.00/MO)
John Stoker (1878-1880)
Frank Stoker (1883)
George Swartz (1892-1895)(resigned 10/1/1895)
S. Marshall (1898-1902)
103
ALLEN COUNTY
Lock 18 & 19 North– 18.00/mo
S. McMullin (1858-1859)
Lock 17 North– 15/mo
Jas. Delaney (1858)
Samuel Price (1858-1859)
S. Fogle (1858)
Wm. Lee (1859)
Locks 17-27 (25/mo)
Wm. Smith (1890)
104
LOCKS 15 THRU 24 (35.00/Mo)
James Alexander (1878-1880)
P. Alexander (1883)
Locks 15 & 16 Tippecanoe and Picayune-18/mo
A. Armitage (1858)
J. S. Fogle (1858-1859)
Saml. Price (1859)
Lock 14 5/mo
James R. Byrum (1887,1908)
105
Lock 15 (SPENCERVILLE)($10.00/MO)
John Price (1885-1887)
John Rose (1892-1903)
Lock 15 and 16
John Price (1886-1890)
Lock 16 (SPENCERVILLE)
($30.00/M0)
Wilson Fosnight listed as a patrolman
from Spencerville to St. Marys
(1903-1906)
106
LOCKS 20 & 21 NORTH
Jos. Moorehead (1858)
Wm. Williams (1858)
Wm. Wilson (1859)
S. McMillan (1859)
E. Miller (1859)
LOCKS 22 NORTH
Paul Stippick (1858-1859)
107
Locks 23 & 24 north–16/mo
John Warner (1858)
Newton Lessner (1858-1859)
T. J. Stevens (1859)
LOCKS 25 NORTH-16/MO
Henry Schroeder (1858)
E. Nants (1858-1859)
N. Amites (1859)
N. Ernst (1859)
108
LOCK 26 north-16/mo
Lewis Peters (1858-1859)
LOCKS 27 & 28 NORTH-17/MO
W. Keckhart (1858)
Wm. Long (1858)
Uriah Long (1859)
109
LOCK 29 NORTH– 16/MO
Harry Bacon (1858)
F. Barnham (1858-1859)
Lock 16 to Delphos
Wm. Alexander (1883)
110
PUTNAM COUNTY
LOCK 28 (OTTOVILLE) ($3.00/MO)
G. H. Otte (Employed during navigation only) (1892-1903)
In 1894 Otte called patrolman
Sherman Gillaspie -Patrolman Blue Creek to Ottoville
(30.00/MO) (1903-1906)
Lock 23 DELPHOS($35.00/MO)
Wm. F. Smith (1892 -1903)
James Kohn(1887,1893-1894) (patrolman)
Wm. Smith patrolman from Ottoville to Delphos(1906-1910)
111
Lock 24 DELPHOS ($30.00/MO)
Purchased by state in 1848
James Kohn Canal Patrolman (1892-1910) Delphos to
Spencerville. (40.00/MO)
John Rose (1885)
James Kohn—Lock 17-25 (1886)
Wm. R. Smith 1893-1894)
LOCK 25 (5.00/MO)
Henry Kundesh (1878-1879)
H, Kundert (1880)
Locks 29 and 30 5/mo
R. B. Castle (1890)
J. Castell (1885)
R. B. Castell (1886)
112
Lock 26 –5.00/mo
Louis Peters (1878-1879)
LOCKS 26 AND 27 (5.00/MO)
L. Peters (1880-1886)
Andrew Peters (1887)
Aaron Goodwin (1893)
R. B. Castle (1893)
M.A. Goodwin (1895)
LOCK 27 (10/00/YEAR)
A. Rollinger (1880)
Lock 28 (5.00/mo)
G. H. Otte (1878-1887, 1893 (nav only)
113
LOCKS 28 AND 37 ($5.00/MO)
R. B. Castle (1893-1892) during navigation only
Locks 29 and 30 (5/mo)
R. B. Castell (1887)
Lock 32 (5.00/MO)Doty’s Lock
Christ. Rider (1878-1880)
E. Vial (1886-1894)
114
PAULDING COUNTY
Junction City
M. E. Vial (1885)
C. M. Vermillion (1887)
Paulding Locks
H. Burns (1885)
Antwerp
G. Hutchison (1885)
Reservoir of Paulding County 10/mo
George Hutchens (1887)
115
Lock 31-HIPPS MILL (TIMBERSVILLE) ($5.00/
MO)
M. Ridenhour (1859)27/mo
B.D. Carlisle (1892-1894) (during navigation only)
R. D. Carlisle (1894 gate only0
W. Koley (1898)
U. C. Gabriel (1902-1903)
Locks 29 and 30 DOG CREEK ($5.00/MO)
S. Galispie (Employed during navigation only) 1898-1903)
Aaron Goodwin (1894) nav. Only)
116
LOCK 30 NORTH—16/mo
Conrad Harney (1858)
Henry Unlaner (1858-1859)
Lock 32 Viall’s Lock south of Junction ($5.00/MO)
S. Landis (1858-1859) - 18/mo
E. Viall (1887-1903)
A. Bolmer (1906)
117
LOCK 31 North– 16/mo
M. Ridenour (1858)
LOCK 33 (SCHOOLEY’S Lock))((5.00/MO)
L.D. Renolet (1890) 25/mo
J. C. Brown (1892-1894) employed during navigation only
G. Capper (1898)(employed during navigation only)
H. V. Nisley (1902)
Jno. Brown (1903)
118
Blue Creek Aqueduct (10.00/year)
Rich. Cole (1878-1880)
119
DEFIANCE COUNTY
Lock 40 (20.00/MO)
Lock House was 24 x 16
Samuel Hunter (1885)
Wm. Murr (1886)
Samuel Hunter (1887)
Samuel Hunter (1892-1893)
Locktender -Sillman Rose (1893-1894)
NOTE: There was a small lot at Independence Dam between the river and canal (Just south of this lot) and used for
a saw mill site originally and was later used by locktenders
for gardening.
120
Locks36, 35, & 34 in DEFIANCE
New lockhouse built in 1851.
Jacob Oster (1878-1879) -15.00/mo
Lon Gleason (1883)
B.C. Viall (1887)
S. Hunter (1890)
L. D. Remoller (1892-1893) (20.00/MO) during nav only
Samuel Hunter (1893) Flood gate tender
A.R. Gleason (1893-1894)nav season only
L.D. Renolet (1893-1894) nav season only
A. R. Gleason (1895(20.00/mo)
Ira Green (1898) $20.00/mo
W. Koley (1902-1906) $25.00/mo
West of Junction
W. H. Burns (1886)
121
Lock 40 and Guard Lock at INDEPENDENCE ($15.00/MO)
William Murr (1878-1887) (10.00/mo)
B. C. Vial (1885-1886)
Stillman Rose (1890-1903)
Mrs. Stillman Rose (1906-1910)
Independence Guard Lock 16.66/mo
James M. Shasteen (1860)
Nathan Vandusen (1860)
122
DIV. 3 RESERVOIR– 10.00/MO
Geo. Hutchins (1878-1886)
123
HENRY COUNTY
Lock 43 (10.00/mo)
Reuben Mapes (1903)
Lock 41 (TEXAS-$15/mo)
W. Bellinger (1878-1880) (10.00/MO)
John Bassett (1883) 10/mo
Ed McGlone (1885)
Wm. Durben (1886-1893)
R.R. Bortle (1893)
R. R. Bortle (1898-1903)
Chas. Hanchett (1906-1910)(and wasteway)
124
LUCAS COUNTY
Lock 50 (TOLEDO ) (25.00/MO)
Benjamin Cole (1878-1883)
J. W. Barrett (1887-1890)
L. Hummelspeck (1885)
Phillip Willard (1886-1895)(died in 1895)
F. M. Montague (1895)
George Maccabee (1906)
S. E. Allmon (1910)
125
Lock 45 MIAMI ($50.00/MO in 1902, 5.00/mo in 1898)(15.00/mo in 1906)
Peter. Cope (1878-1887) (10.00/MO)
Last name also spelled Kope
John Allen (1898-1906)
August Moore (1908-1910)(10/mo)
Toledo Weigh Lock
Built in 1851
T. D. Thomas (1858)
126
State Land At TOLEDO ($25.00/MO)
Benjamin Cole (1879-1883)
J. W. Bartlett (1886)
Phillip Ward (1893-1894)
Geo. Maccabee (1902-1906)
Phillip Willard (1893)
F. M. Montague (1898)
S. E. Allman (1908-1910)
State Lot at PROVIDENCE ($20.00/MO)
Frank Serrick (1878) 10/mo
C. Constand (1885)
J. Reynolds (1886-1890,1893-1894, 18981902)
H. C. Bortle (1903-1908)
127
LOCK 43 BUCKLINS/BULKHEAD (15.00/MO)
LOCKS 42 & 43 (10.00/MO)
New lock house built for $287.76 in 1853
Reuben Love (1892-1893) during nav only(10.00/MO)
John Winkleeck (1894)
J. R. Mapes (1906)
R. J. Mapes (1908-1910)
1853– New lock house at Bucklins for $287.76
128
GILEAD SIDE CUT (10.00/YEAR)
J. E. Gillett (1878-1880)
PROVIDENCE FEEDER ($20.00/MO)
Frank Serrick (1879-1880) (10.00/MO)
H. C. Bortel (1908-1910)
129
PROVIDENCE GUARD LOCK 20/MO
A. McDougle (1860
Benjamin Cole (1860)
130
Lock 44 PROVIDENCE (20.00/MO)
William Bellinger (1879)
Walter Kendll (1883) 10/mo
Joseph Reynolds (1892-1894)
Ostego State Lot on River (5.00/Mo)
S. A. Thomas (1908-1910)
131
MAUMEE LOCKS 1-5) ($25.00/MO)SIDECUT
Tim Harrington (1879) 10.00/mo
Reper Kope (1885)
Samuel Charter (1887-1903)10/mo
WATERVILLE (10.00/MO)
C. J. Stickney (1908-1910)
Waterville to Ostego (20.00/mo)
A. E. Shaffer (patrolman) 1906
132