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US/CAN 977.8 A1 no. 136
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CATE MICROFILMED
MAY 4 1988
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PROJECT and
CALL X
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HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY
J
MAR 5
-OF 1945
COUN
MISSOURI,
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO
July 4th, 1876
As Compiled for, and Read at, the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence, in Ironton, July 4th, 1876.
USTCAN 977.8 AI no. 196
IRONTON, MO .: PRINTED AT THE "REGISTER" JOB OFFICE, 1876.
E PLURIBUS UNUM
GENEALOGI
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
29144 P.B.A.
In
HISTORY & IRON COUNTY,
WHEREAS, On the 25th day of May, 1876, U. S .. Grant, President of the United States of America, issued the following
PROCLAMATION:
Whereas, A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives was duly approved, on. the 13th of March last, which resolution is as fol- lows:
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America, in Con- gress. assembled, that it be, and is hereby recom- mended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States, that they assem- ble in their counties or towns on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our national independ- ence, and they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its foundation, and that a copy thereof be filed in print or »manuscript in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy in print or manuscript be beld in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that complete record may be obtained of a progress of our institutions during the first century of their existence: and, whereas, it is deemed proper that such recom -- mendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States;
Now, therefore, I, U. S. Grant, President of the. United States, do hereby declare, and make known the same, in hope that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the people United States,
is
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect.
Given under my hand at the City of Washington, this 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, and of the independence of the United States the one hundredth.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT, President.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
And, whereas, on the 3d day of June. 1876, the County Court of Iron county, Missouri, made an or- der as follows:
It is ordered by the Court that Hon. J. W. Emer- son and T. P. Russell be and are hereby appointed a committee to prepare a history of Iron county since its organization, in compliance with the Proclama- tion of President of the United States, dated 25th of May, 1876, and that they be served with a copy of this order duly authenticated;
And afterwards, on the 10th day of June, 1876, at a public meeting of the citizens held for the purpose of taking steps to duly celebrate the Centennial 4th of July, Capt. C. R. Peck was appointed to assist in the collection of historical summary;
We, the undersigned committee, thus constituted, beg to present the following historical summary:
Iron County
came into existence by an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 17th, 1857, and was formed from ter- ritory taken from the counties of Wayne, Reynolds, Madison, Washington, Dent and St. Francois.
Major John Polk, Representative of Madison coun- ty, but residing within the limits of the proposed new county, Hon. C. C. Zeigler, of Ste. Genevieve county, member of the State :Senate, and .James Lindsay, Eurolling Clerk of the Senate, wore prin- vipally instrumental in the passage of the act. Great difficulty was found in procuring the necessary ter- ritory without reducing other counties below their constitutional limits, as well as the ratio of represen- tation; hence the peculiar shape of the county.
The act provided for the election officers, and the selection of a county site, which took place on the first Monday in June, 1857, and resulted in the elec- tiun of J. V. Logan, John W. Miller and Moser Edmunds, justices of the county court; John F. T. Edwards, clerk of the county and circuit courts; Jobin Cole, sheriff.
3
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
H. N. Tong and David Carson, who were doing a mercantile business at the eastern base of Shepherd Mountain, in what was then known as the Shepherd Valley, negotiated the purchase of lands from Cyrus Russell, Sr., William Russell, and A. B. Guild and wife, and proceeded to survey and lay off a town, which they named IRONTON, and entered it on the list with Arcadia, Pilot Knob, and Middlebrook, as competing points for the location of the county seat. Neither place at this election received a majority.
The first meeting of the county court was held in Areadia, on the 4th of August, 1857, and organized by electing John V. Logan, president. Then the county was divided into convenient Townships and Road Districts, and the court made the appoint- ment;of township and other officers also, the order- ing of another election for the location of the county seat, which took place on the 7th of September, 1857, and resulted in the selection of IRONTON.
Messrs. Tong & Carson having very generously given to the county alternate lots in Ironton, they were sold at public sale by Samuel A. Reyburn, com- missioner of the seat of justice, and realized to the county the sum of $10,602.00.
An order was made for the erection of a courthouse. And in April, 1858, contract was awarded to George S. Evans and William F. Mitchell, for the sum of $14,000, and Hou. John V. Logan appointed super- intendent.
The corner stone for said building was laid with appropriate ceremonies on the 4th of July, 1858, and in the stone were placed the Declaration of Inde- pendence, a copy of the Ironton Furnace, a Free Soil newspaper then published in Ironton by James Lindsay, beside many other articles, including vari- ous U. S. coins. The courthouse was completed and occupied in October, 1860.
The first term of the circuit court was held in Iron county in May, 1858, Judge John H. Stone, presiding.
The United State Land Office was removed from Jackson, Missouri, to Ironton in 1861, by order of the Department at Washington, D. C., James Lind- say, Register, and C. R. Peek, Receiver, making the removal of Records, Plats, &c. Since then they have been succeeded by John A. Miller, Wm. H. Winfield, John Donaldson and Wm. G. Dilts, Reg- isters, and Robert E. Craig, Thomas Holladay, J.
.
4
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
Lewis Moser and Llewellyn Davis, Receivers.
The St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad was completed to Pilot Knob in 1857. Its completion was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies, speech- es, firing of cannon, &c. The terminus remained at Pilot Knob until 1871, when it was extended through the county southward, forming connections with Arkansas and Texas, opening up and giving the southern portion of the county better market facil- ities, new towns springing up and post offices being. established.
In 1865 the county court ordered the building of a county jail. Plans and specifications furnished by B. Shepherd, of Ironton. Contract awarded in 1866. to Johnson and Flynn, for the sum of $8,972.50. Completed in 1866, and bonds of the county were successfully negotiated to raise the necessary funds, at about par.
NEWSPAPERS.
The following newspapers have been published in Iron county since its organization:
The Furnace, a Free Soil paper was established in 1858, James Tandsay editor and proprietor, discon- tinued in 1861, in consequence of the Rebellion.
The Baptist Journal, a religious paper established in 1859 by Rev. William Polk editor and proprietor, lis continued in 1861, in consequence of the Rebel- lion.
The Arcadia Prospect, a Democratic paper estab- lished in August, 1859, in Arcadia, W. L. Faber, editor, and A. Coulter, publisher. Afterward re- moved to Iranton, and discontinued in 1861, in con- sequence of the Rebellion.
The Ironton Forge, a Radical Republican paper, established in Ironton in 1865, upon the "Furnace" office material, Eli D. Ake, editor. Office sold in 1866 and turned into
The Southeast Missouri Enterprise, a Republican paper, G. A. and J. L. Moser, editors and proprie- tors. Discontinued in the fall of 1873 in consequence of ill health and subsequent death of J. L. Moser, one of the editors.
The Review, a Democratie paper, established in May, 1866, by R. E. Craig, editor. Office sold and name changed to
The Iron County Register, in July; 1867, continu- ing Democratie in politics, edited by Thomas Essex and, W. H. Winfield, and by them sold in May, 1869,
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
to Eli D. Ake and C. K. Miller. Again changing hands in June, 1871, Eli D. Ake becoming sole pro- prietor, who still continues its publication as a Dem- ocratic paper.
The Liberal, a paper "Liberal" in politics, estab- lished and run as a campaign paper during the cam- paign of 1870. Robert L. Lindsay, editor.
The Commonwealth, established on the "Enter- prise" office material in 1874. An independent re- ligious-political paper; Crawford and Duncan, edi- tors. Ran only a few months and discontinued in consequence of a disagreement between the editors.
POST-OFFICES.
The first post-office within the territory now known as Iron county was established in 1839. Up to that time the nearest post-office was Caledonia, to which point the mails came once each week. Farmington, Fredericktown, Greenville and Van Buren were the nearest offices in other directions.
Just prior to the date named, Col. Cyrus Russell had prepared and forwarded to the Post Master Gen- eral a petition praying the establishment of a post- office in Arcadia Valley, so named after the Valley. It was so established, he agreeing to carry the mail for $119 per annum, or less if the office should not earn that sum. Theodore Russell was mail car- rier and Henry P. Russell was postmaster. No other offices were established until the opening of the railroad to Pilot Knob. Since then offices have been established as follows:
Annapolis, Charles Hart, postmaster; Arcadia, S. R. Harveill, postmaster; Belleview, Wm. W. Rey- burn, postmaster; Carsonville, William P. Adams, postmaster; Des Are, Charles H. Collins, postmas- ter; Graniteville, F. Rodach, postmaster; Good Water, D. S. Love, posmaster; Ironton, C. R. Peck, postmaster; Kaolin, Samuel Quisenberry, postmas- ter; Middlebrook, August Boss, postmaster; McNail, B. S. McNail, postmaster; Ozark, John W. Berry- man, postmaster; Rocky Glade, John C. Pinder, postmaster, discontinued; Pilot Knob, P. H. Jaquith, postmaster; Marble Creek, Hon. John Polk, post- master, discontinued; Hogan Mountain, Holloman, postmaster, discontinued.
SCHOOLS.
The first report of the condition of the Public School of the county was made in 1860, of which the
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
following is a comparative statement, showing the difference between 1860 to 1870:
1860
1876
Incr'se.
Number of School Districts.
15
35
20
No. children between 5 and 20 yrs of age
1093
25-15
1452
No. children aflending school.
3-12
1514
1172
No. school honses
13
34
21
No. teachers
16
36
20
Average pay of teacher, per month
$27.25
$40.10
$12.85
Total amount paid teachers. .
1587.39
7544.14
5956.75
Total amount derived from State fund.
583.12
1775.00
1191.88
66
Tp. fund.
471.86
2592.00
2120 14
66
.€ fines, &c ..
3.13
123.00
119.87
raised for buildings & repairs
52.16
735.72
682.50
There were Public Schools within the territory of which Iron county was organized before its organi- zation, but we have no official data in relation to them.
Separate schools are now provided for colored chil- dren. There is but one now in the county, and that is located in Ironton.
ARCADIA COLLEGE.
This institution of learning, situated about one mile south of Ironton, in the town of Arcadia, was founded by the Rev. J. C. Berryman in 1847. It was styled "Arcadia High School," and run under the auspices of the M. E. Church, South.
The school was a grand success, and sent out its graduates and students annually through the sur- rounding country, some of whom may be found fill- ing positions of eminence and trust in almost every county in Southeast Missouri. There was a short interruption during the war. Prof A. C. Farnham left the school, (having purchased it a short time before the war), and it reverted to Mr. Berryman under a deed of trust.
At the earnest solicitation of General C. B. Fisk, (in 1863), then Commanding the Post, Mr. Berry- man re-opened the school and continued it until 1867, when Peter Dilts, Esq., became the purchaser of the institution.
In 1869 Rev. L. M. Lewis purchased the school, and by the liberal donations of citizens, erected the new brick building. But, becoming embarrassed financially, he sold the property to a joint stock company composed of citizens who had furnished most of the means to build the new edifice. From that time the institution, by an amended charter, became "Arcadia College," endowed with a liberal
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
charter, conferring collegiate and manufacturing. powers.
In 1875, Prof. C. O. Jones, the present owner, be- carne the purchaser and is now managing the insti- tation. The property has cost over $40,000, and con- sists, in addition to the beautiful college grounds, with excellent springs of pure water and groves, of an old and new building. The latter is a four-story brick edifice, 60 by 120 feet, very substantial, with mansard roof, and when completed will be one of the largest buildings used for school purposes in Southeast Missouri.
The following teachers have taught in the institu- tion, viz:
Rev. J. C. Berryman, principal; Mrs. Margaret. Berryman, governess; Prof. A. C. Farnham, A. M .; Rev. John T. Pierce, D. D .; Mrs. Martha H. Pierce, Mrs. L. Maloy, Rev. W. B. Trumball, Mrs. Virginia Trumball, Rev. Jesse P. Davis, Prof. Peter E. Bland, A. B .; Prof. George W. Farrar, A. B .; Miss Maria R. Russell, Miss Elizabeth Flatharty,"Miss Martha W. Garrity, Miss Sally A. Wells, Emily G. Berry- man; Prof. B. S. Newland, A. B .; Mrs. Newland, Miss Cornelia Hayden, Prof. Thomas Essex, A. B .; Prof. S. L. Whitlock, A. B; Miss E. F. Hunt, Mrs. A. E. Peck, Prof W. Hypes, A. B; Rev A. G. Lucas, Mr. Green, Miss Elizabethi C. Berryman, Prof J. Kotzen- berg, Rev L. M. Lewis, Rev Henderson, Prof J. W. Jones, Prof Arnold, Rev. William Shelton, James. Shelton, Prot D. R. M ' Anally, A. B .; Rev W. F. Mister, A. B; Mrs. M. M. Clardy, Miss E. Stanford, Rev C. O. Jones, A. M., Principal; Prof William R. Edgar, B. S .; Prof William Frese, Mrs. Ella D. Jones, B. S.
TOWNS
in Iron county, and the date of filing plats of same are- IRONTON, plat filed October 20, 1857;
North Addition to.Ironton, December 23, 1859;
West "' July 11th, 1867; Fast
. 6 " June 13th, 1867. Middlebrook. plat filed in St. Francois Co., Aug. 24, 1856. Pilot Knob, first plat lost, second plat filed Oct. 27. 1872. East Addition to Pilot Knob, plat filed October 27, 1872 Arcadia, laid off August, 1849, plat recorded November 27, 1872; Addition to Arcadia, plat filed May 30, 1858, Annapolis, plat filed March 30, 1871; Des Arc, plat filed August 8, 1871; Wilsonville, plat filed March 18, 1871; Reynolds, plat filed June 20, 1873, Ghermanville, plat filed: October 16, 1873; South and West Additions to
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
.Ghermanville, plat filed February 20, 1874; Shaverville, {near Des Are), plat filed March 2d, 1874; Mill Town, plat filed April 27, 1874.
CHURCHES.
Ironton has 1 Methodist (North), 1 Presbyteriau, 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, (St. Paul's) 1 African Metho- dist.
Arcadia has 1 Methodist (south).
Pilot Knob has 1 German Lutheran, 1 Roman Catholic, 1 Union.
Belleview has 1 Methodist (south), 1 Baptist.
Graniteville has 1 Roman Catholic.
Marble Creek has 2 Baptist.
Annapolis has 1 Union.
Union Township has 1 Baptist.
THE PROFESSIONS
Are represented by 12 Clergymen, 10 Lawyers, 20 Doctors-19 male and 1 Female- and 4 Professors. ARTISTS.
1 Photographer-J. W. Wilkinson, Ironton.
1 Portrait and Landscape painter, W. J. Hinchey, Arcadia.
There is no means of ascertaining the number of voters in either 1857 or 1858. There are at present in Iron county 1213 voters.
The Assessed value of all property in Iron county was, in 1858 $727,577.00, including 240 slaves valued at $99,375.00. Total value of all assessable property in 1876, is $2.095.925.00, showing an increased valu- ation of $1.368.348.00.
The total debt of Iron county on the 1st March, 1876, was $7,032.00.
The School Fund of Iron county loaned at 10 per cent. interest March 1, 1876, was $21,500.00.
OFFICERS
Of Iron county since its organization were:
Representatives-Maj. John Polk, Jeff.C. Russell, David Carson, John V. Logan, P. H. Jaquith, C. R. Peck, Charles Van Roden, John F. T. Edwards, A. WV. Holloman.
County Jutices-John V. Logan, Jolin W. Miller, Moses Edmonds, Samuel Tullock, Philip Pipkin, Wm. Suits, John W. Hancock, John P. Hayden, Franz Dinger, 3 terms; Theodore P. Russell, Joshua Mason, P. H. Jaquith, John Greason, Joseph L. Stephens, A. D. Williams.
.Sheriffs-John Cole, Wm. N. Gregory, Morgan
9
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
Mace 2 terms; James Buford 2 terms; D. F. Martin 2 terms.
Circuit and County Clerks-John F. T. Edwards, David Humphreys, 2 terms; Joseph Huff, 2 terms; Jacob T. Ake, 2 terms.
County Treasurers-A. C. Farnham, Theodore P. Russell, A. N. Hunt, David Carson, Henry P. Rus- sell, 2 terms; James A. Greason, 2 terms.
Public Administrators-J. T. Ake, H. P. Russell, 2 terms; John A. Miller, 2 terms.
Assessors-Pate Buford, Wm. N. Gregory, C. H. Collins, Joseph Huff, R. F. Trow, W. E. Peck, Giles Russell, I. M. Raney, A. D. Williams. Wm. E. Bell.
Circuit Judges-John H. Stone, James W. Owens, John W. Emerson, James H. Vail, Philip Pipkin, Louis F. Dinning.
Circuit and County Attorneys-D. Q. Gale, D. C. Tuttle, James H. Vail, A. H. Smith, James H. Chase, J. P. Dillingham.
State Senators elected from Iron county: Hon. H. S. Stevenson, Hon. Thomas Essex.
LODGES
Established in Iron county, and date of organiza- tion, are:
MASONIC.
Star of the West Lodge, No. 133 .- Organized at Iron Mountain, Mo., on 11 May, 1849. There were present A. Hudspeth, Moses Edmunds, Reuben Thomas, Benj. Johnson, Charles L. Edmunds, Robt. Ferguson, W. H. Thomas, and Albert Reeves. Lodge removed to Arcadia in 1851. Charter lost dur- ing the war of the rebellion and new Charter pro- cured in May, 1862, and Lodge removed to Ironton. Present membership, 80. Lodge owns Hall now oc- cupied by them, and valued at $2.500.
Mosaic Lodge No. 351 .- Organized February 9th, 1870, in Belleview, Mo. Charter members: John D. Webb, Joseph C. Mover, E. H. Mathews, Jesse E. Lowe, W. R. Moyer, James Logan, James Fitzpat- rick, Jos L Stephens. Present membership 56. They own the Hall in which they meet, valued at $800.
Midian Royal Arch Chapter, No 71 .- Organized in Ironton, April 15, 1871. Charter members: J T Ake, J R Higdon, A T Shepherd, D F Martin, J Grandhomme, H M Hutchins, C K Miller, S J Har- key, H A Turner, C A Butts, F Scoville, W R Edgar, S Buford, W J Collett, W C R Williams, L. MI Lewis, Lawrence Ryan, M K Havens, Henry
10
HISTORY OF IRON COUOTY ..
Zimmerman, Joel Yancey, J P Duley, S C Liscomb . J. R McCormick, F Roan, D H Cheeney, B Shepherd, D C Bugg, E D Ake, Daniel Miller, G B Clark, W. C Thomas, J C Williams. Present.membership, 61 .. This was the only Chapter south of St. Louis in this! state until 1875, when one was organized at Potosi, mostly formed of members from this Chapter.
Belleview Chapter No. 111, Order of Eastern Star-Organized in Bellevew July 7, 1875. Charter members: M J Ebbs, Alice Ebbs, Emma C Martin, Mary Warren, Lannah Carty, Josephine Webb, Lucy Foster, Ann Logan, Hattie Mckinney, Susan Low, J R Reyburn, Sarah Neely, E S Ebbs, Peter Warren, JE Low James Logan, Geo B Foster, J Fitzpatrick, J T Fitzpatrick, W S Mckinney, James Stafford, C W McFarland, B S MeNail, S A Rey- burn, J H Neely, J L Stephens, J H Valley, Benj. Kidd, R J Hill, John Johns, W H Buford, R J Mc- Kinney, W R Read, W. Reyburn, Jolin H McHenry. Present membership, 88.
ODD-FELLOWS.
Iron Lodge 107 .- Organized in Arcadia, June 12th, 1857. There were present John H McHenry, W. F Mitchell, C R Peck, Elias Kemp, J F T Edwards, P Ake, Henry Zimmerman, J T Garner, Benj. Johnson Z G Harris, Wm N Gregory, August Trauernicht, A C Farnham. Removed to their own building in Ironton in 1858. There is at present a membership of 37. In 1872 they sold the old hall and in 1870 erected the large brick hall which they now occupy -valued at $6000.
Pilot Knob Lodge, No 156 .- Organized at Pilot Knob on November 4th, 1865. Charter members: Peter Gerstenmeyer, Henry Querforth, Henry Boss, William Biel, David Weiss, J G Ranft, Adolph Kirchner, Charles Boss, F A. Millert, Fred Behrens, August Huck and Theodore Roemer. Present membership 45. They work in the German lan- guage and own the building in which they meet, valued at $1000.
Phobe Lodge, No. 330 .- Organized in Belleview, on 12th day of November, 1874. Charter members -John H McHenry, Elias Kemp, A P Dace, W R Read and J W Lashley. Present membership, 44.
Ironton Encampment, No. 29 .- Organized in Iron- ton, on 20th May, 1860. There were present B Shepherd, C R Peck, J T Ake, Wm Ake, D H Ken- ney, P Ake, David Humphreys, Franz Dinger and.
.
11
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
Win Suits. Present membership, 20. GOOD TEMPLARS.
Ironton Lodge No. 6 .- Organized in Ironton 7th June, 1859. Charter members: J A Covington, B M Beckett, Warren E Peck, Kate Hyde, R L Lindsay . Eli D Ake. N Dilg, J E Gosseline, W Cristy, Kate Boswell, Lizzie Reel, S M Beckett, Louisa Covington and A Sheherd. Present Membership. 45. They own the Hall in which they meet valued at $500.
Pilot Knob Lodge, No. 113-Organized on the 4th of April, 1870. Charter members: D O'Donnell, W C R. Williams, Lizzie Davis, James Denny, James P Duly, Amanda Nicholas, Charles W O'Donnell, Wil- liam Hyde, A C Hancock, George Davis, Julia Denny, Joseph H Davis, James W Denny, Jr., Francis Denny, Mary C O'Donnell, James C Davis, Jane Denny, Ber- nard Barnacle, Lizzie Hancock, Mary Hancock, Ellen Hancock, Tillie Reel, Thomas Reel, and Sallie Reel. Present membership, 19. They own the Hall in which they meet, valued at $1000.
Cascade Lodge, No. 703-Organized on the 23d of February, 1874, Charter members: J H MeHlenry, J D Webb, J A Dillon, Ida Guyton, John M Fitzpatrick, Charles B Valley, J A Grayham, C B Smith, John Moore, Samuel Moore, Henry Guyton, Levy Kness. William Lowe, Sarah Dillon, Rhoda Lowe, Frank Ed- munds, Jane Sizemore, Mariah Burks, E Pendergrass, Catherine Sheridan, Jenme Edmunds, Mary Mayberry. and J E Lowe. Present membership, 35.
There are a few manufacturing establishments in the county, viz:
MILLS.
IRONTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY-Steam flouring mills; Giles Russell, F. Kaths and Frank Scoville, pro- prietors; located in Ironton,
REYBURN & Co .- Steam flour and saw mills, located in Kaolin township.
PALMER, BUFORD & Co .- Steam flour mills, located in Belleview.
DR. EDWIN MAY-Steam saw and plaining mills, in Ironton.
DELANO & SON-Flouring mill, wool and cotton carding; also cotton gin. Steam and water-power, lo- cated between Ironton and Arcadia.
GREASON'S SAW MILL-Water power, located on the Greason farm, one and one-half mile west of Ironton.
JOHN H. MCHENRY-Steam saw mills in Belleview.
SCHMITTNER-Steam saw mills, Kaolin township.
OZARK STEAM SAW MILLS-Yaukey & Co., proprie- tors, Liberty township.
12
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
BERRYMAN & RUSSELL-Steam saw mills, Ozark Sta- tion.
CLARKSON & Co .- Steam saw mills, Union township.
PETER HUGHES-Flour mill, water-power, Union township.
T. B. LOWE-Corn mill, water-power, Union Town- ship.
JOHN LOVE-Corn mill, water power-the oldest in the county-located in Dent township.
CARR & TOWL-Steam saw mills, near Hogan Station. WEAST & Co .- Steam saw mills, Union township.
JOHN MARSH-Flouring mill, water power, Union township.
B. SHEPHERD-Sash, blind and spoke factory, located in Ironton-steam power.
ANNAPOLIS FLOURING MILLS-Water-power, Clark - son & Co . proprietors; located near Annapolis.
FURNACE-Pilot Knob, iron furnace.
FOUNDRY-Valley Foundry, located in Ironton, Henry Zimmerman, proprietor.
BREWERY-Mrs. Thomas Seitz, Middlebrook.
DISTILLERY-Reynolds & Babcock, Arcadia.
SODA FACTORY-Richter & Co., Pilot Knob.
TOBACCO FACTORIES- William A. Fletcher and May & Hunt, Arcadia.
CIGAR MAKER-F. Oesterle, Ironton.
TANNERY-William Russell, Arcadia.
SADDLE AND HARNESS MANUFACTURERS- William Russell, Ironton, F. Schwarner, Pilot Knob.
WAGON AND CARRIAGE MAKERS -William B. Newman & Co., Ironton; Samuel T. Gay & Co., Iron- ton; E, C. Tual and L. Miller, Arcadia; G. J. Schacht, Pilot Knob.
BROOM FACTORY-J. W. Gideon. Ironton.
TIN WARE-Moser, Bishop & Co., Ironton; C. T. Fontaine. Pilot Knob.
COOPER-C. C. Russell, near Ironton.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Up to the Centenial year, 1876, but little mineral developments have been made, except in iron; and in this metal, operations have been confined almost ventirely to Pilot Knob a cone-shaped mountain about 590 feet high, lying on the north side and ad- jacent to Ironton, the county-seat. The property, about 43.000 acres, is owned by a corporation at first called "The Madison Iron Mining Company," and changed to the "Pilot Knob Iron Company. In 1847 two smelting Furnaces, each of 16 to 20 tons capaci- ty, were erected at the north base of this iron cone,
13
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
and also, a Forge for making blooms and other wrought iron. The latter operated for some six or eight years, and was then discontinued. The fur- naces, however,have been operated since with sev- eral important interruptions and suspensions. Up to the completion of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain railroad, in 1858, the the iron manufactured was hauled by teams to Ste. Genevieve, on the Mississip- pi river. After the opening of the railroad from St. Louis, the shipment of ore was commenced, and dur- ing a part of the time, as many as 40 car-loads, of ten tons each, of the ore were shipped per day, and carried to the Mississippi river at Sulphur Springs, . where it was re-shipped on barges to different fur- naces on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, for smelting.
Owing to the great depression in the iron business of the country, the entire business of the Company has been suspended since 1875.
In September, 1864, during the battle of Pilot Knob, (hereafter noted), the furnaces, together with a large amount of charcoal, hay, &c., were burned by the Confederate forces under Gen. Price; but one furnace was rebuilt, and resumed operations in 1865.
At Hogan Mountain, about 5 miles south of Iron- ton, some 200 tons of iron ore were mined and ship- ped in 1874, and the work was suspended.
At an iron bank two or three miles west of Des Arc, 25 miles south of Ironton, some 500 tons of hein- atite ore were mined and shipped in 1873, and the work suspended.
In 1870 about 50 tons of iron ore were mined at Biser Mountain, eight or ten miles south of Ironton, and work supended. In 1868 about one hundred tons of ore were mined at Russell's mine, on Marble Creek, about ten miles south of Ironton, and the work abandoned.
In 1874 about fifty tons of ore were mined at the Minden iron bank, about one mile east of Ironton, and the work suspended.
In 1874 several tons of ore was mined by Judge F. Dinger, F. Rodach, and others, about one mile north of Pilot Knob, and work suspended.
The Pilot Knob Iron Co. has mined .. considerable ore at several places on its lands, but. the work on all has been suspended, although it is believed ex- tensive deposits of ore exist at each locality named.
At many other points in the county it is believed
14
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
excellent iron deposits exist, and it is hoped will be worked on the 4th of July, 1976.
Lead ore was mined-say 25 tons-in 1868, at Big Creek mines, near Des Arc, twenty-three miles south of Ironton, and the work suspended. Lead ore has been found in several other places in the county, but no developments made up to this time.
Ore said to be "tin stone," has been found in sev- eral localities, but is at present a disputed question whether it be really tin.
Marble has been found on Marble Creek, twelve miles south of Fronton, and in 1860 some of it was .quarried, and sawed in blocks for market. About the same time marble was quarried about two or three miles west of Ironton, and used in some por- tion of the Capitol building at Washington, D. C. It is said to be of fine quality and in extensive quan- tity. It exists also about four miles south of Iron- ton. None has been quarried since 1860.
THE GRANITE QUARRIES,
about four miles northwest of Ironton, were opened in 1868, upon lands belonging to the American Iron Mountain Company, and leased by B. Gratz Brown and Phillip W. Schneider, who furnished a large portion of the granite for the St. Louis bridge, and also for public buildings in different parts of the the country, among them the State House in Spring- field, Ill. Phillip W. Schneider operated the same in 1874, '75 and '76, and for the United States Cus- tom Houses in St. Louis, Missouri, and Cincinnati, Ohio-the two last contracts amounting to nearly one million dollars.
The works have been suspended recently, but hope to resume again as soon as Congress makes an appropriation to continue the work of construction. WINE .- Up to this time the production of wine has not probably exceeded 100 gallons per annum.
In considering the progress of Iron county dur- ing the ninteen years of its existence, due allowance should be made for the four years of devastating war front 1861 to 1865, during which time its des- olating ravages were here experienced with great severity. In the summer of 1861 a Confederate force under General Hardee occupied the southern por- tion of the county. The St. Louis and Iron Moun- tain Railroad, then terminating at Pilot Knob, caus- ed this to become the headquarters of the United States Army for the Southeastern portion of the
15
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY.
:State, and was occupied by Federal forces during the entire war, varying from one to ten thousand men.
General U. S. Grant, now President of the United States, was in command as Colonel of the 21st Illi- nois Infantry volunteers, having his headquarters in the residence of Colonel James Lindsay, when he re- ceived his commission as Brigadier-General, and was ordered hence to Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, Illinois.
Two important forts were built in the Valley by the United States Army, in 1862 and 1863. One on the hill between Ironton and Arcadia, upon which is now located the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and named Fort Hovey, (after Col. Hovey, of the 33d Illinois Infantry, then stationed here). The other about one quarter of a mile north of the north- ern base of Shepherd Mountain, and about the same distance west of the western base of Pilot Knob, and named Fort Davidson, (so called after General Da- vidson).
On the 27th day of September, 1864, the battle of Pilot Knob was fought. General Price in command of the Confederte Army of 15,000 to 20,000 men and ·several field batteries, attacked the United States forces under command of General Thomas L. Ew- .ing, consisting of about 800 troops and about 150 or .200 citizens, white and colored, who assembled at Fort Davidson and joined in its defence.
The Confederate Army attacked the Fort with great energy and spirit, but were repulsed, and af- ter fighting nearly all day, were compelled to retire from the field, leaving from 1,200 to 1,500 dead and wounded.
During the following night, despairing of re-in- forcements, the United States forces blew up the Fort and successfully retreated to Rolla.
The Provost Marshal's office for the 3d Congres- sional District, enbracing 22 counties in Southeast Missouri, was located at this place, by which many recruits were mustered into the United States ser- vice, beside the many forced in by the draft, which was in operation at the time of the battle referred to, and suspended for a time In consequence of the same.
During and following these hostilities, the citizens suffered very severelyfrom pillage and the accom- panying ravages of war. Indeed it may be said, in .a word, that at the end of the war in 1865, the citi-
16
HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY ..
zens of the county were quite generally reduced to . poverty, and the farms, buildings, and other im- provements, were in a wretched condition of decay and devastation.
Finally, we extend to those who may live in Iron county on the 4th of July, 1976, a fraternal greeting, wishing them Grace, peace and the enjoyment of liberty in unity, and free pursuit of happiness. J. W. EMERSON, T. P. RUSSELL, C. R. PECK,
Committee ..
MAR 5 1945
GENCALC ORSA CIETY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
29144
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