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Feature on Steel Plow. Topic: INDUSTRY
Written by Rich Wallace in June, 2000
DANIEL TOY MAKES FIRST STEEL PLOW IN COUNTRY |
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Copeland, Honda, Alcoa Building Products, Ross Aluminum and many other companies leading
the way, Sidney is poised at the beginning of the next century to continue its record as
an amazing center of industry and growth. Certainly during our lifetime, Sidney has
maintained a diverse economic base that enabled its citizens to enjoy a prosperous way of
life. Surrounding the concrete and steel acres of industry are rolling fields that
will soon contain acres of corn and soybeans. Area farmers have things in common with
their business neighbors, as both strive to take advantage of the most current trends in
technology to increase efficiency. Both also share some common origins. An
early group on intrepid pioneers, inventors, and would-be businessmen in Sidney sowed the
first real seeds of prosperity. Their efforts would benefit both the agricultural and
industrial communities of Shelby County, Ohio. This is the story of those men and the
early days. When John Blake built the first log cabin on the north
side of the court square, there was no industry and little commerce. Survival was the
order of the day. Items needed for survival were, out of necessity, made of wood and other
natural products. Crude iron implements were brought in by horseback. Their repair gave
rise to a need for a village blacksmith.
One of the early pioneers to settle here filled that need. He was Christian Kingseed.
Operating out of a shop at the corner of Ohio Avenue and North Street, Kingseed saw a
need for more than just a repair shop. Responding to what he perceived to be a demand by
local farmers struggling to clear the land, he built an early form of plow. It was
constructed of iron.
At the same time, a young lad named Daniel Toy was working his way, on foot, with his
family from New Jersey, to Mansfield, Ohio. After a brief stay, they traveled to the
Brandt, Ohio area. Mr. Toy furthered his skills by making wagons for use in the Mexican
War, and after a time, moved to Troy. Having learned the plow building trade along the
way, he went into business with Colonel William Swaim for two years in Troy. Daniel Toy
moved to Sidney by 1848.
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