When did Mersman start making tables?

The first Mersman table was crafted by J.B Mersman in 1876 after his relocation from the state of Indiana to the city of Ottoville, Ohio. Mersman initially worked as a mill sawyer but changed careers to table making after a decline in the lumber business.

After finding success in making tables, beds and bed parts in Ottoville, the city of Celina invited J.B. Mersman to build a factory in the city's premises. The city also provided the craftsman with a $7,500 investment that led to a successful furniture factory by 1900. During the lifetime of the Mersman furniture company, it produced approximately 30 million tables.