As early as the 1880s, Sidney saw the development of an industry in which Sidney companies would play a major role. A.T. Boscom and L.M. Studevant founded a folding machine company in 1884, in which Boscom was the inventor and Studevant the financier. The company produced newspaper folding machines. After Boscom’s retirement, the firm became Eclipse Folding Machine Company. The business was located on N. Main Avenue. The establishment of this business paved the way for the next businessman to continue the folding machine enterprise.
George Mentges was proprietor of the Mentges Folder Company, manufacturers of Sidney, Ohio was one of the leading citizens and representative businessmen of Shelby County. He was born in Sidney March 24, 1866 and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hass) Mentges. The parents of George were born in Germany and from there came to Ohio. George Mentges attended school in Sidney and after school assisted his father who was a cabinet maker and undertaker. His interest in starting a manufacturing business began in 1897. He devoted a great deal of his time with his interest in manufacturing and disposed of his interest in the undertaking business in 1909. On August 24, 1901, Mr. Mentges married Miss hattie Bull who is a daughter of Francis Bull, formerly a prominent man in Orange Township. George and Hattie had two children. Mr. Mentges is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He is a man of social tastes and is identified with both Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Mentges founded Mentges Folder Company in 1897. He began his business in a small way from his garage on S. Main Avenue. The business developed to the extent that enlargement became necessary and in 1909 the company erected a fine modern building on the corner of Oak Avenue (terminus) and Poplar Streets. The brick building sits behind the Bonnyconnellan Castle. This building secured adequate accommodations, doubling the floor space. Mentges personally supervised the large manufacturing plant. He employed 15 skilled mechanics. While busy in industry, George found time to manage his valuable farm in Orange Township on which his family’s summer home is maintained.
Mentges Folder Company manufactures of newspaper and job folding machines were shipped all over the United States and Canada as well as foreign countries. Liberty Folder Company, established in 1917, bought out Eclipse Folding Company and the Mentges Folder Company by 1935 combining interests of the three companies.
Consider the folding process the next time a newspaper is unfolded or a pamphlet is viewed. The folding machines were a part of early industry in Sidney, Ohio.