Defiance Box Company

In 1916, the Defiance Box Company appeared in a Chamber of Commerce book
about Defiance.  The company, at that time, had been in existence over 25 years, buying logs and timber "on the stump" from nearby land owners close to the company mill which was on the canal in Defiance.  The factory and offices were located at the junction of the Wabash and B & O railroads.

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."
This article, undated, featured the ladies who worked at the Box Company in 1925, while a later article discussed the history of the factory. 

"THIS PICTURE is of some of the girls who worked at the old Defiance Box Co., a factory now occupied by the Farm Bureau alfalfa dehydrator.  It was taken on the roof of the plant in 1925.

Those in the picture are, from left, back row - June Whetstone, Ocie McClure, Lucille Cooper, forelady - Mrs. Barbara Flannigan, hold 'Watermelon,' the cat that was a pet of Miss Jennie Markley.
Kneeling down in front were Rose Kiessling and Lula Miler.

The picture was submitted by Mrs. Ocie Switzer, 323 Auglaize St." 

Wire bound boxes, pottery crates, poultry coops, box "shooks*, and wheelbarrows were all produced at the Box Company and shipped around the U.S. and to Canada, and Central and South Americas. 

*Shooks were the parts to make a box for the 'do-it-yourselfers.'"

In 1916, the Box Company appeared in a Chamber of Commerce booklet, which indicated the company, at that time, had been in business for 25 years.  W. A. Kehnast was president; C. A. Fessel, Secretary-Treasurer, and H. D. Bokop, General Manager.  The company was located at the junction of the Wabash and B & O Railroads, and also had a large saw mill along the canal in Defiance.  
"Logs were bought locally from the timberlands of the area."

Photo brought to the newspaper by Bernard Sherry

"THIS PICTURE, taken 55 years ago, shows part of the force of the old Defiance Box Co., which manufactured out of native timber dovetailed box shooks, veneer egg cases, poultry crates, wheelbarrows, slot fencing, factory trucks and various other items.

The main plant was located where the Farm Bureau alfalfa dehydrator now stands.  There also was a two story sawmill on the site of the Cozy Corner where hub blocks and dimension lumber were fashioned.

The two Defiance plants, at their heights, employed 124.  A plant at Ullin, Ill., employed about a similar number and one at Oriental, N.C., about 60.  When the native lumber was used up, an effort was made to use timber from North Carolina, but it came from swamp land and could not be kiln dried.
H. D. Bokop was the promoter and general manager of the company.

The picture...shows only a part of the working force and among those he could name are: John Stickley, Andrew Brewer, Frank Cupp, John Rath, Barney Sauber, Tom Rout, John Sauber, Bernard Sherry, Earl Whetstone, and Bill Romer.  The main local plant had several bad fires, but was rebuilt each time as only part of it burned."