History of Aultman & Taylor, Part III

All of [the] men had been employees of C. Aultman & Co. of Canton. It is probably fair to assume that Aultman selected [the] men to assist him in opening the new factory because he knew them personally and ... was well acquainted [with] their talents, skills, or abilities essential [in] assuming the responsibilities to which he had called them. Many years of experience with C. Aultman & Co. placed them in good stead in the launching of the new venture. ... [A]t the outset there was a tenuous link between the two companies ... Even though [the] men had been the employees of the Canton firm, ... the machinery that they built for the Aultman & Taylor Manufacturing Company was in all respects quite dissimilar to that built in Canton, and that continued to be true during the ... life of the two companies.

The above point deserves more than passing attention ... in view of the fact that articles have appeared. ... containing statements that tend to leave readers [with] the impression that those two companies were under the same leadership and management or that there was only one company. Statements made to that effect are erroneous ... Each company had its own [board of directors] and stockholders. It was about 1875 that Aultman sold his holdings in C. Aultman & Co., withdrew from active management, and soon thereafter severed all of his relationships with C. Aultman & Co. There was no crisscrossing of either directors or stockholders of [the] two companies. ... Aultman took men from the Canton plant to assist him in the inauguration of the new enterprise in Mansfield, and that is ... the extent of the relationship that obtained between the two companies. ...

In 1865 Aultman went to Mansfield, where he resided for four years. His residence in that city was for the purpose of supervising the erection of the buildings, installing machinery, and placing the factory [in] operation. At the end of four years, having gotten the factory underway, he returned to Canton and lived there until his death in 1884.

The year following the founding of the company marked a period of transition. While Taylor was the treasurer and continued to hold his interest in the company until his death, yet at no time during those years was he active in the management of the company. ... Wiggle was the first secretary, who served in that capacity for two years and withdrew from the company at the close of 1869. Under these circumstances the company found itself without a competent person in charge of the management.

Confronted with the need amounting to a precarious situation. ... Aultman turned to Michael D. Harter and persuaded him to become manager of the company. That his choice was a prudent one is evidenced by the company's record during the ensuring years. Harter grew in stature, and the notable success that the company achieved was due in large measure to his sagacious leadership. ...