Farmers Fence Co.
Farmers' Fence Co post card that was handed out at the Logan County Fair in 1909
At the dawn of the twentieth century, advances in woven-wire fencing were transforming American agriculture. In 1906, Bellefontaine stood poised to join that industrial movement when the newly organized Farmers’ Fence Company announced plans to bring its patented manufacturing process to Logan County.
On April 19, 1906, the Index‑Republican reported that the Farmers’ Fence Company of Hudson, Michigan, planned to establish a manufacturing facility in Bellefontaine, Ohio. The company was founded after George R. Mills received a patent in 1905 for a unique knot used in the production of woven wire fencing. This patent enabled the Farmers’ Fence Co. to manufacture the only fence at that time featuring a knot that secured both stray and strand wires. Fence experts recognized the knot as “a practical tie,” prompting experienced individuals to quickly join Mills in his new business venture. The company was organized with a capitalization of $100,000.
Representatives of the Farmers’ Fence Co., George R. Mills and J. W. Shaver met with members of the Bellefontaine Commercial Club and were highly impressed by the city’s railroad access. To verify the company’s claims, club members W. W. Osborn, J. K. Milligan, and W. R. Niven, along with a representative of the Daily Index‑Republican, traveled to Hudson. While there, they toured the Jackson Fence Company, which constructed specialized machinery for Farmers’ Fence Co., and visited several other Michigan fence manufacturers, all of whom spoke positively of the company.
In July 1906, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shaver announced their relocation to Bellefontaine, where Mr. Shaver assumed the role of secretary. George Mills oversaw machinery operation and plant installation. By March 1907, a site on W. Lincoln Ave. had been selected for the facility. Production at the Michigan plant had already reached 75,000 rods of fencing, with demand exceeding capacity. Manufacturing continued late into the evening, producing approximately 1,000 rods per day.
Operations in Bellefontaine began in August 1907. Despite ongoing challenges in the steel market, the company expanded rapidly. By April 1909, Farmers’ Fence Co. supported seventeen local dealers and advertised widely under the slogan, “Made at Bellefontaine, Ohio, Sold Everywhere.” The product line included fencing for agricultural, residential, and poultry use, as well as gates and fence accessories. The company’s display at the Logan County Fair’s Industrial Exposition was especially popular and featured promotional items and postcards depicting a young woman looking through a section of their fence.
Despite early success, the company experienced financial difficulties. On October 5, 1911, creditors filed thirteen judgments totaling $40,000, with additional claims soon increasing the amount owed to more than $50,000. Although the company announced its intention to continue operations, production did not resume. On October 14, 1911, several creditors filed for involuntary bankruptcy in U.S. District Court. A receivership agreement followed shortly thereafter. By August 1914, all assets had been liquidated and distributed, and the building on W. Lincoln Ave. was later occupied by a wholesale poultry business operated by J. A. Long.
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