(Photo provided from the S. Durward Hoag collection) Mr. And Mrs. Peddinghaus (left) with their Rambler on Newport Pike 1908. 

You could say L. L. “Lew” Peddinghaus was an early 1900s pioneer – as owner/operator of an automobile. Hardly anyone owned an automobile in 1900-1910. Peddinghaus operated a Marietta jewelry store at 187 Front Street (which became Baker & Baker Jewelers in 1918). He was able to afford new cars every year or so, unusual at the time.

Driving was an adventure then – often exciting, sometimes risky. Mechanical problems were frequent. There were few creature comforts – passengers could get wet, muddy, cold, hot, windblown. Roads were poor; few were paved. Maps were not reliable; getting lost was part of the adventure.

The Rambler moniker fit well. Peddinghaus drove Ramblers, and the name described his adventuresome spirit. Rambler was a progressive brand, introducing such features as a steering wheel and spare tire. It cost $1400, about $35,000 today. From 1904-1909 he owned four Ramblers. Peddinghaus and his wife Edith were frequent car trippers. Lew kept meticulous notes every time he drove. Here are some excerpts.

One of the shortest trips was on July 3, 1907 from his home on Front Street to Devola. He and wife Edith picked up 3 passengers at 7 pm. “When got to road near (Devol’s) dam, left rear wheel malfunctioned …could not repair it.” Waited 2 hours for another car to tow him. Then the tow car broke down. “Reached home at 11:25 pm.”

There were many multi-day trips covering hundreds of miles. One such trip took them to Cleveland and back over 10 days in September 1906. On that trip, the vehicle operated for 37 hours, 16 minutes covering 624.1 miles, with an average speed of 17.05 miles per hour. How many times have you recorded details like this of your trips?

From Marietta to Zanesville, they averaged 13.2 mph, “drove through rain, put on tire chains to navigate the muddy road, everyone wet…. I got into poison ivy.” Zanesville to Columbus: “averaged 20.7 mph (excellent for the time); stopped to replace a link in broken chain. George Alexander, one of his passengers, was attracted to a girl in a drug store and “bought everything she offered. Hair tonic etc.” Columbus to Dayto: …”Everything working fine, no stops, and no trouble.”

Wooster to Zanesville: “A day of trouble!” Muddy road; tire chain caught on mud guard; clutch failed on long steep hill – recruited 2 boys with horse team to pull them up the hill…have been lost in every town we passed through. Clutch failed on hill below Dresden. Lost in woods. Got dark. Hardest day and most trouble have ever had.” Zanesville to Marietta:”Engine missing badly; bridge out, changed plugs near Malta. At Beverly, another George incident: He saw “a good-looking girl leading a horse which was frightened by their car” and ran off. He retrieved the horse and returned it to the girl.

In 1908 they drove to New England with a Dr. and Mrs. Howard Smith and their son Lawrence. The trip started on an uncertain note: “Leave Marietta expecting to go to Berkshires (in MA) …May not get there. Car is…overloaded.” It was a risky venture, 5 people driving long distance in an open vehicle, with the constant threat of breakdowns, rough roads, bad weather, and poor road signage. They were gone 23 days. Despite initial concerns, the trip was a success: “1748.7 miles – one puncture – valves slipped twice – pump leaked – radiator leaked. Never had to stop. Always reached (destinations) on time. Good car – delightful trip.”

Thanks to Lew Peddinghaus’s pioneering spirit and journal notes, we have a fascinating glimpse into early auto travel.