In 1876, The Canning Industry History

In 1876, before the canning industry was established on River Road:

The business of drying sweet corn has become one of the most important industries of Warren County. Mr. J. M. Hayner is one of the largest dryers in the West. The well-known Hayner Farm, 1 mile from South Lebanon, is devoted almost exclusively to the raising of sweet corn for the market. 230 acres of the finest bottomland in the Miami Valley is devoted to the culture of this delicious article by Mr. Hayner alone. Mr. Hayner’s rich land produces enormously a superior article of corn. At the present time he is actively engaged in gathering, drying and shipping of his corn. During the drying season he employs 75 hands and dry each day about 60 barrels of corn. His capacity is 75 barrels. A personal inspection of Mr. Hayner’s establishment while in active operation convinces us that he uses none but the very best corn, and that his claim of being second to none is based upon facts. The old saw, that economy is wealth, is aptly illustrated by Mr. Hayner’s management of his drying establishment. Nothing is wasted; everything is utilized. His hands all work by the piece; the more they do the more they are paid. By these means Mr. Hayner is able to furnish a number one article for less price than those who pay little attention to the details. His huskers and cutters are paid so much for each basket or bucket husked and cut from the cob. When the checks held by the amount to any considerable sum, they are redeemed in money. Mr. Hayner believes in resumption, but not irredeemable paper currency, although his checks command 6% premium at any store in South Lebanon in exchange for goods. Mr. Hayner, like all other manufactures of a fine article, sells but little in the West. Baltimore and Philadelphia are his principle markets. All he can make with his present facilities is eagerly snapped up by Eastern buyers. Next year he will greatly enlarges establishment and dry a correspondingly increased amount of corn. Mr. Hayner is also engaged in drying fruit, and finds a ready market for all he can furnish with his present limited facilities. Mr. David Whitten is the foreman of Mr. Hayner’s establishment, and the overseer of his farm. He is a capable and clever gentleman, and takes pleasure in showing visitors through the corn drying house and the other many attractions of the beautiful Riverside residents he is been engaged in the business for the past three years and is an invaluable assistant he assured us that he allows none but the best goods to leave his hands under the favorite- XXX-A-XXX -brand. He and Mr. Hayner are both genial gentleman, every inch of them, rigidly honest in their business transactions. What they say of their goods can be depended upon as the truth. We have no hesitation in bearing testimony to their worth and the worth of their goods.

Information provided by Willard Spicer