| Not long after the first cabins appeared
around the square in Sidney, a need arose for basic iron products such as nails, hinges,
bolts, and horseshoes, creating a market for a village blacksmith. Christian Kingseed was the first 'smithy' to open a shop. He arrived here in 1846 or 1847. His shop and forge was located at the northwest corner of North Street and Ohio Avenue. Mr. Kingseed was the smithy who forged the ball and chains that were used to shackle Alfred Artis on his way to the gallows. Artis was hanged in 1855 on the courtsquare in Sidney for the murder of his 12 year old daughter, Emma. John Heiser took over the the blacksmith shop when Mr. Kingseed retired. |
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| Plow manufacturing was another early industry for which
Sidney, Ohio, became well known. Christian Kingseed made a crude iron plow at his shop,
but the first person to develop the business was Daniel Toy. A native of New Jersey, Toy
lived briefly in Mansfield, Ohio, and a couple of other places before moving here with his
family in 1848. Toy made iron plows. There is evidence that Toy was the first person in
the country to make a steel plow, however, John Deere is given credit for the invention.
Soon after his arrival in Sidney, Daniel Toy went into business with David Edgar. Their
firm, the Toy and Edgar Plow Works, was located in Sidney's first courthouse building, which had been moved to
West Avenue between Court and Poplar Streets. Daniel Toy, and his son, William Minor Toy, engaged in the plow business at various locations around town for many years. (William trained all four of his sons in the steel craft — Hugh worked for his father, Dan and Robert worked for the Sidney Steel Scraper Company, and William, Jr.) Daniel built plows used in the construction of the C.H. & D. railroad through Sidney. |
Factory of W.M. Toy and Company, located at the corner of North Street and East Avenue in Sidney. (Now site of Bridgeview Middle School). |
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