Examine New Census Data Transcribed By State   

The Giering Bottle Company

History of Ohio
The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925
Volume IV, page 191

JACOB F. GIERING became a resident of Youngstown, Ohio, in the year
following that of his birth, which occurred at New Castle, Pennsylvania, on
the 27th of July, 1869. His parents, Louis and Mary (Andler) Giering, were
born and reared in Wurttemberg, Germany, where their marriage was
solemnized and whence they came in 1864 to the United States and
establishing their residence at New Castle, Pennsylvania, the father having
there continued to follow his trade, that of cooper, until 1870, when he
came with his family to Ohio and established himself in the cooperage
business in Youngstown, which then gave slight semblance of the important
industrial city which it is to-day. He developed a substantial business in
the manufacturing of barrels, casks and similar products, and the
enterprises grew to such scope as to require his employment of several
workmen. He eventually expanded the enterprise to include the manufacturing
and distributing of wine, and various aerated beverages now commonly
designated as "soft drinks," besides adding to his business a general
bottling works. He was long numbered among the sterling and successful
business men of Youngstown, and was one of its venerable and honored
citizens at the time of his death, in 1914. His widow, now (1924)
eighty-eight years of age, still maintains her home in Youngstown. She is
an earnest member of the German Reformed Church, as was also her husband.
Jacob F. Giering attended the public schools of Youngstown until he
was twelve years old, and thereafter attended night schools and a business
college, in the meanwhile being closely associated with his father's
business and familiarizing himself with its varied details. Thus he was
well fortified for the successful continuing of the business when he
purchased the same from his father, in 1896. He carried forward the
enterprise until 1912, when he sold the same to his brother, the late
Charles C. Giering, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this
publication. Six months later he purchased property in the City of
Alliance, Stark County, where he erected and equipped a bottling plant and
operated the same two years. He then sold the property and business and
returned to Youngstown. Here he became associated with his brother, Charles
C., in building the local Coca Cola Plant on Mahoning Avenue, as a
subsidiary of the bottling works owned by his brother and founded by their
father. After two years the brothers sold the property on Mahoning Avenue
and removed the plant to Sharon, Pennsylvania. After having there conducted
the business three months Jacob F. Giering returned to Youngstown, but he
soon made a visit to California, and upon coming back to Youngstown he
assumed charge of the old established bottling works with which the family
name had long been identified, his brother Charles C., owner of the
business, having died February 11, 1923. On the 1st of January, 1924, Mr.
Giering incorporated this business under the title of the J.F. Giering
Bottling Company, and of this corporation he has since been the president,
while Clyde E. Wood holds the dual office of secretary and treasurer. The
company is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 for the
manufacturing, bottling and distributing of carbonated beverages, the trade
of the company having been extended throughout the greater part of Eastern
Ohio.
Mr. Giering is a loyal and public-spirited citizen, is a democrat
in political allegiance, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of the Golden
Eagle. For more than thirty years he sang with the he Youngstown
Mannerchor, and of this fine organization he is still a member. He and his
family hold membership in the German Reformed Church.
In 1892 Mr. Giering was united in marriage with Miss Rachel
Barnickle, who was born and reared at Sharon, Pennsylvania, and they have
one son and five daughters: Julia is the wife of William Holtzman, of
Youngstown; Gertrude is the wife of Merritt Sharp, and they reside at Long
Beach, California; Helen is the wife of Ernest Keller, of Youngstown;
Carrie is the wife of Russell Landale, of this city; Dorothy, who remains
at the parental home, is a graduate nurse and is following the work of her
profession, and Alfred is associated with his father's business.

Youngstown Ohio Vindicator 1937

When Jacob Giering was four years old, in a blouse with a big ruffle on it and tight velvet pants that were very fashionable in those days for a small boy, he was taken to Youngstown's Saengerfest on the old fair grounds on Belmont Ave. It was by far the most important event in his life up to that time. He considered himself pretty lucky to be allowed to go at all. And when the whole north end of town echoed and re-echoed to the music of the old German folk songs he figured he was pretty close to heaven in the way of spectacular exhibitions. Ever since that time he has wanted to bring Saengerfest to Youngstown. He grew to manhood and joined the Maennerchor, and it sent delegates to Saengerfests all over this part of the country. But not once did it come to Youngstown. Today, at 68, Giering feels pretty good. The 1937 Saengerfest will be held here in June at Stambaugh auditorium. It will be the largest delegation of out of town visitors brought here this year for a two day period. It will fill the hotels and private homes. And it will bring to Youngstown sturdy, thrifty people with money in the bank at home, a love of family and a desire to take something home to those folks who couldn't come. Means Much To City. The Saengerfest will mean a great deal to this city from a financial standpoint alone, not to mention the aesthetic value as these happy singers gather on a specially constructed state literally to sing their hearts out. Giering and his associates have been successful in promoting this affair after many years. The Youngstown Maennerchor is backing it with $10,000 in good hard cash. Back in 1873 Youngstown got the gold cup for its singers. There is a chance it may get the first prize again this year. Of all the men and women who stood up back there in lusty German songs there is but one person that Giering knows is still alive today. He is John Brenner, retired Jeweler. Giering Notes Changes. Giering himself, has watched the town change. Louis Giering, his father, a cooper set up a bottling business on Edward St. Young Jacob went to West Side school. Times were hard. Every hand was needed to help fill the many mouths and at 11 he went to work for his father. When he was 14, he realized a little more education wouldn't hurt him. For five years he went to night school. In 1896 he bought out his father's bottling business for $2,500. Today it is capitalized at $50,000, does an annual business of around a quarter of a million dollars. His son, Albert, is secretary. For a half century he was belonged to the Maennerchor and held every office in the organization. He was picked as publicity director for the 1937 Saengerfest. Remembers Much. Giering has a memory that retains everything. His mind goes back to the winter of 1873 when it was so cold the ice was two feet thick on the Mahoning. Traffic used the ice. He saw his first circus on the old circus grounds on the site of the present United Engineering and Foundry Co. It was " The London Circus" and advertised, "We make our own electric lights." This was the first time Youngstown people had seen such wonders. He remembers when local soldiers, anxious to salute President Hays, shot off a cannon that injured two men badly and hurt others. Giering recalls the fight Chauncey Andrews had to put through his Pittsburgh and Western Railroad that later became the Baltimore and Ohio. There was a row over the right of way and firemen once were called to put the hose on Andrews' men. Watched Horse Car. When the first pavements were put down, young Giering went to see the work and watch the horse drawn street car that ran from Superior to Basin St. He recalled the Excitement when the first electric street car ran. Youngstown only had 20,000 persons and a youngster about town knew most of the important people. When natural gas was brought in, Giering thought he had seen about everything. Chauncey brought it up to the race track on Poland Ave. Where there was a 100 foot pipe shooting into the sky. The gas was lighted as it came out of the pipe and people drove in from mile around to see such wonders. "I've watched Youngstown grow up," Giering says, "and have tried to grow up along with it. I'm putting in $5,000 worth of machinery to bring my business up to date, and this year Youngstown will get the Saengerfest. That's when real big doings are coming to town."