By: Mary E. Mortimer
John Gottlieb Maier immigrated to the United States from Wurttemberg, Germany with his family in 1854 when he was seven years old. The Maier family first settled in Champaign County, Ohio, and then moved to Spring Hills where John G. spent his childhood days.
In 1879, John G. opened a meat market “at the Old McCoid Stand, in the rear of the Courthouse” in Bellefontaine. He advertised, “Keeps on hand at all times, fresh and salt meats, including corned beef, smoked hams, sides and shoulders, also sausage, and lard etc.” In 1883, John G. advertised “bologna, sausage, and head cheese for sale”.
John G. Maier married Hannah Miller, and they had six children, Lizzie, John Frederick, George, Frank, Henry, Nora, and Mayme.
John F. worked at the Big Four Railroad roundhouse and then joined his father in the meat business as a clerk in 1896. He became the proprietor of the Maier Meat Market in 1900 and partnered with butcher, T.E. Dillon. In the fall of 1901, John F. decided to pursue his interest in prospecting for gold. He moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado but after one year returned to his meat market business in Bellefontaine. He was in partnership with Williard Smith, Andy Turner, and Eugene Dillon, and in 1906, he became the sole proprietor. That same year, he married Fannie Contner on June 22.
On a hot summer day in 1914, it was reported that hogs belonging to John F. Maier wandered into the First Baptist Church through an open door. They took refuge from the heat by crawling under seats in the Sunday school room. The hogs had to be carried out of the church.
John F. had successful markets at 111 N. Main St and at 209 S. Main St. In April 1915, he purchased 13 acres of land from E.W. Patterson, trustee of the Foundry and Machine Co., located between the west end of Carter Ave. and Plumvalley St. There he built the first meat packing plant in the area. The building was constructed of concrete and brick and was “practically fireproof”. Plans for the building were approved by the Bureau of Animal Industry in Washington D.C. and passed Federal and State inspections. At that time, it was the largest refrigeration plant in Bellefontaine.
Around 1919, John F. and Fannie Maier built a new home at 536 E. Columbus Ave. There they raised their four children, Mary Eleanor, John Edward, Karl Richard, and Herman A.
John G. Maier passed away in 1920 and shortly after his death, John F. opened a new meat market and grocery store at 201 S. Main St. Maier continued to operate the N. Main St. market as well.
During WWII, meat and many other items were rationed. The Maier Market announced on December 4, 1942, “a self-instituted meat rationing plan. No beef or pork will be sold on Thursdays. There is no limitation on other meat items such as veal, livers, cold luncheon meats, and cheese.”
During the war years, the Maier Market contributed large amounts of food to the Railroad Free Canteen in Bellefontaine, and they were actively involved with civic endeavors and were very generous with donations. The N. Main St. store closed around 1942.
In 1948, Maier sold his meat packing plant on Carter Ave. to R.M. McClanahan and C.D. Anderson.
The Maier Markets enjoyed much success for over 50 years. John F. Maier was still actively involved with the daily operations of his store when he passed away in October 1950. Mayme Maier worked as the bookkeeper in her brother’s market for many years.
In January 1951, the heirs of John F. Maier sold the Maier Market at 201 S. Main St. to Walter Lamb Sr. He continued operating the market with longtime employee Elizabeth White as manager until 1952. The site then became the Logan County Bank in March 1953.
A special thank you to Sherry Wilkins, great-granddaughter of John G. Maier, for sharing information and photos of her Maier family.
Visit the Logan County History Center at 521 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311, to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History.
The History Center is open for tours Wednesday – Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
