It's an early "safety". Many were used by women who couldn't or wouldn't ride high wheelers. Men laughed at them, until the little ladies began out riding them on their vastly superior designed bikes. It's older than late 1890's. Could be from the mid to late 1880's. It's very primitive too, from before bikes were really standardized. In the late 1890's many bikes looked a lot like what we rode just a few years ago.
There were thousands of manufacturers during those years, and it could have been made by anyone. Do not paint it! Do not remove any parts. It's collectable, and possibly valuable.