Schneider Stave and Lumber Company records

Schneider Stave and Lumber operated as a wholesale and retail saw, stave, heading, and hoop mill dealing in oak, elm, and cottonwood in Helena, Ohio (Sandusky County). In 1891, the Lumberman’s Directory reported that the mill was powered by steam, had a circular style saw and a 4m capacity per day, with an estimated financial responsibility of $25-50,000. A stave and heading mill operated at Bettsville was powered by steam. Corporate records within the collection indicate that the stockholders elected F. G. Schneider as president, Jonathan D. Loveberry as general manager of the store, and F.A. Loveberry as Secretary. P.H. Daub was also a stockholder, and his name appears to have been associated with the business at one point in time.

Some details about the history of the Helena mill are provided in the Twentieth Century History of Sandusky County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, edited and compiled by Basil Meek (1909), which reports that “for about about twenty years [Jonathan Loveberry] operated a sawmill here and manufactured the larger portion of the lumber that went into the construction of the buildings of this place. When he retired from that business he sold out to Fred [Schneider]. He also conducted a general store and engaged in the stone and lime business for a long period, being one of the town’s most active and successful businessmen” (p. 596). Mr. Loveberry’s daughter, Laura, married P.H. Daub, of Helena, who was also involved in the business.

The Bettsville location is described in the volume, "History of Seneca County, from the Close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880" by W. Lang, which reports that the “Bettsville Stave Works were erected about thirteen years ago, by Jacob Schuster, as a planning-mill, and converted into a mill for the manufacture of hoops. The buildings were purchased by Fred. Snyder, of Helena, about four years ago, when stave machinery was added. The capacity is about 30,000 staves and 7,000 hoops per day. The sycamore, elm and bass-wood, used in the manufacture of hoops and staves, are supplied in the neighborhood. George Nuernburg is foreman” (p. 577).