Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 31

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 916

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The Coal Mines go into the hills at an average of seventy to eighty feet above the Ohio. Below the coal is soapstone and fire- clay, above the coal is a layer of slate and sandstone. The coal veins are about four and a half feet thick, and dip about thirty feet to the mile, a little to the south of east. Each mine has a main passage, then it is mined right and left in parallels, the excava- tions leaving squares of coal, like streets and squares of a city. As a last thing the squares, or rather blocks, of coal are taken away, leaving only enough coal for pillars as sup- ports for the roof of the mine wherever such are required. Here some of the main pas- sages go in through the river hill, cross the ravine, enter the second hill inland, go through that, cross a second ravine still farther north, enter a third hill, a distance of two miles. They are still lengthening their lines, and, I am told, can penetrate miles farther. The coal is brought out on tramways by mules and horses. This vein of coal is so inferior to that from Pittsburg, and in some other places, that Pomeroy coal has lost its old-time im- portance, and the industry here is at this time depressed.

At Minersville they are working two mines

from the surface down, which strikes a lower and stronger vein; one of the shafts is eighty-seven feet deep. Both at Middleport and Syracuse the valley is so wide that the people entirely live in front of the hills. Not so at Pomeroy and Minersville. Part dwell in the gaps of ravines of the hills, called "runs" because little streams run through them. At Pomeroy the people obtain their home comforts in places respectively named Sugar Run, Kerr's Run, Nailor's Run and Monkey Run; at Minersville the runs are known as Dutchtown and Welshtown, in accordance with the transatlantic origin of their inhabitants. The slopes of the ra- vines to the right and left are gradual and grass and forest clad, while the hills face the river in precipitous cliffs. The dwellings perched on the summits above the ravines have grand outlooks up and down the river. The business places and salt works are on the narrow strip of land fronting the ravines and cliffs.

These towns have a dingy, gloomy aspect. The buildings that front the river are gener- ally brown, and black as so many charcoal bins. The very ground you tread is hard and black with coal débris. Numerous smoke-

MEIGS COUNTY.

stacks belch forth clouds of smoke, mingled with the lighter clouds of steam.

My Second Visit .~ It was towards the sun- set of a day in March when I came into Pomeroy for the second time after the lapse of forty years from the first. On the sum- mits of the cliffs the trees stood as black skeleton forms clear cut against the sky. The lights and shadows were long and strong over all the varied objects of hill and valley. There were dingy-looking, gloomy buildings, rising clouds of smoke from huge smoke- stacks mingled with bursts of steam, precip- itous cliffs, winding river, opening ravines, where the sun burst through and tipped every element of gloom in streamers of light, and finally, perched high up in the ravines, were the humble cottages of the miners, bathed in floods of golden light from the low down sun. Nature wore a weird, strange aspect, and my emotions were in consonance with the scene.

But Humanity was there. Humanity ever interests. I had come among a people who delved in the interior of the earth that we on the outside might be warmed and do our grumbling before blazing, winter-defying fires, and say, "O Lord, who can stand Thy cold ?" But there was one comforting reflection. While these men were doomed to spend their days down in the bowels of the earth, often in bent, constrained attitudes, picking by dim lamplight at walls of coal, love lightened the task as their thoughts went forth to wife and little ones in the cottages_out in the blessed sunlight, high on the hills. And to them, also, how sweet must seem their homes when on each recurring morning, as they go forth to their honest labor, the morning sun greets them with its blessing light and opens to their vision beneath and around a landscape of hill, plain, valley and river of wondrous beauty. And then many of them have another comfort. Down in the valley are more than a score of churches, where they oft go, where hope gladdens their hearts, and they feel the day is coming when they shall lay down the pick and delve no more.

Salt Industry .- In the year 1850 a new industry came for this region, the manufac- ture of salt, when the first salt well was opened at Pomeroy.

The wells are from 1,000 to 1,200 feet in depth, and the water is pumped by steam. Including both sides of the river are eighteen salt furnaces, and the production of salt is about equally divided between the two. The daily production is about 3,600 barrels ; value, $2,188. Each furnace has its cooper shops, where the barrels are made. The hoop-poles are of hickory, and come from West Virginia. The staves are of swamp elm, from the Black Swamp region of Northwest Ohio. The bar- rels cost twenty-two cents each. A barrel of salt, salt inclusive, wholesales at seventy cents, and weighs 280 pounds.

I entered the packing-houses where the salt is piled in bins ; to the eye looking ex- actly like huge snow heaps, and in marked contrast to the smoke-hued walls against

which it lay. The employees in the salt works are mainly German, the miners Welsh and German. On the West Virginia side the American element is the strongest.

Salt Roller .- Cattle require salt as much as human beings. The oft neglect by far- mers to give it to them is a cruelty without excuse. A salesman travelling here showed to me a new device, an invention for the cattle to help themselves. It was a roller coated with salt, about a foot long, two and a half inches in diameter, with frame-work, to which above were two roof boards, like the roof of a house, to shed the rain. It is lastened in a manger, on a fence or a tree in the field. The cattle go up and, licking on the under side, it revolves under the tongue. They soon learn its use. When the salt on a roller is gone it is replaced by another roller in the same frame-work. The rollers are sold at $1.50 per dozen.

DISCOURSE ON SALT.

Salt is a necessity ; its consumption enor- mous. Multiply by thirty-seven the number of men, women and children in the United States, and the resultant will be the number of pounds used therein by man, beast, and in the arts.

Its praises might be on every tongue-the tongue of man, the tongue of beast. With the thought of salt is a multitude of associa- tions. Let us present a few, as Scriptural, Monumental and Admonitory, Gastronomical, Humorous, Poetical, Sublime, etc.

Scriptural .- "Ye are the salt of the earth," thus illustrating saving virtue.

Monumental and Admonitory .- Lot's wife converted into a pillar to serve as a guide to the travelling public and a warning to the insatiable curiosity of woman.

Gastronomical .- Yes, everywhere. With- out it, who would go for an egg ? How are the ice-cream people to make their delicious concoctions ? How about sending Biddy, the cook, down cellar to the pork barrel ? And without any regard to pork, where, without salt, would be the attraction in beans? One especial bean, however, there was that will ever have an historical attraction, the particu- lar bean the planting of which led to the sudden demise of the giant, slain by Jack, the giant-killer.

Humorous .- The expression on the desir- ing youngster's face on being told how, with the requisite pinch of fresh salt, he may catch the bird ! Then the comical, triumph- ant expression on the face of Christopher Columbus, who, having shown how to stand an egg on its end, reached for the salt and ate that egg, as he naturally must have done, though History just that moment was called off and forgot to record it.

Poetical .- The tear glistening in the eye of Pity ere it is exhaled to the skies. When it is exhaled it mingles with the other vapors of cloudland, helps out the sunset glories whereupon some imaginative youth gazing aloft grows enthusiastic, when lo, a poet is born.

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MEIGS COUNTY.

Sublime .- The ocean that girts the earth around, heaving its ponderous waves on high under the wild fury of a mighty tempest. Like the tear it is saline. So saline is it that Jack Tars who go down to the sea in ships, when they grow old, and rheumatism, it may be, gets in her grip on their aged bones, we term "Old Salts."

It is when those rheumatic, gouty twinges seize upon old "sea legs" that the eye of pity drops one of her most sympathetic glistening globules.

Ere you move into a new house just

sprinkle the floor with salt, next take in a broom and a Bible, then, in accordance with an old belief, good luck will abide with you and your household ; bursts of laughter and tears of joy be your portion.

There is much in salt-one "may think of it-dream of it-and will find no end to it, while all creation, with the apple king in- clusive, will say 'aye.'"

And to this all the light little ocean wave- lets, as in succession they run and kiss every shore the whole world around, will merrily laugh and sing, "So mote it be."

JOHN MORGAN'S RAID.

John Morgan's raid came to grief in this county, and to its final demise in Columbiana, for the details of which see page 453. The battle of Buffington's Island took place in a direct line about thirteen miles from Pomeroy, but by the windings of the river full thirty miles. The Ohio twists and curly-cues more ground the borders of Meigs than any other county of Ohio. The following account of some of the operations in this county is from a correspondent of full 'eliability for accuracy :

When the Confederate General, John Morgan, closely pursued by the Federal cavalry, entered Meigs county, heading for one of the several fording places in the Ohio river above and below the towns of Middle- port and Pomeroy, he met serious opposition from the local militia, who, unlike their neighbors of the counties first raided, knew of his movements in time to plan for resist- ance.

It was the fortune of two Middleport companies O. N. G .- one of infantry com- manded by Captain R. B. Wilson, Lieuten- ants O. P. Skinner and Samuel Grant ; the other of artillery, Captain John Schreiner, the two numbering about 120 men-to render service so valuable that it should find a place in history. With other organ- izations these companies were ordered to rendezvous at Marietta. On the very night of their arrival in camp came tidings of the enemy's approach to their own town and they at once asked for orders to return to the defence of their homes. With but little delay they were put aboard a steamer and by daylight the following morning had disem- barked and were several miles out on the roads by which Morgan was_approaching. The show of resistance was sufficient to turn him aside and he moved off up the river toward Buffington's Island, where, on the following day, the Federal cavalry overhauled him and scattered his forces. Information reached Capt. Wilson that one detachment would undertake to cross the Ohio at a shoal place several miles above Pomeroy, and reinforced by about twenty men, under Daniel Davis of that city, he immediately marched to intercept the fugitives, reaching the point late in the evening.

William Grant, George Womeldorff and James Waddell, three of the most reliable men of the command, were directed to find

a point well up the road from which they could observe the approach and estimate the number of the enemy, and by an agreed signal advise headquarters of the facts ascer- tained.

The "artillery " consisted of an old gun that had been used for celebrating the Fourth of July, which, loaded with spikes and pieces of chain, "commanded " for several hundred yards a straight piece of road flanked on one side by timber where part of our men were concealed, and on the other side by a creek with steep banks. Scarcely had the dispositions been made when the enemy appeared. William Grant and his comrades, assisted by the darkness, avoided the approaching raiders, who, a few moments later, ran upon the picket com- manded by Lieut. Samuel Grant and sur- rendered without much resistance. They were marched to Pomeroy and placed under guard in the court-house to be turned over as prisoners of war, sixty-eight enlisted men and seven officers.

Scarcely had the company been relieved of these prisoners when tidings came that Mor- gan's main force was moving down the river along the roads running back of the towns and would probably attempt a crossing at Cheshire or Eight-Mile Island, below Middle- port, where there was a good ford at the low stage of water then prevailing. At the Pom- eroy wharf lay V. B. Horton's side-wheel tow-boat, the Condor, a low, fierce-looking, long-nosed craft, with suggestive holes in her wheel-house, but very inoffensive. The old gun before referred to was conspicu- ously placed on her bow, after which the vessel steamed away toward Cheshire, reach- ing the landing place at the head of the island just as the first daring rider of Mor- gan's cavalry forced his horse into the Ohio to try the ford. The river bank down to the

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MEIGS COUNTY.

water's edge was lined with the raiders wait- ing to make the crossing as soon as this pioneer had pointed out the way. He was beyond range and succeeded in reaching the shore and escaping. But as the old Condor "rounded to" above on the West Virginia shore there was a scampering up the opposite bank, which apprised us that she had been mistaken for one of the government gunboats, and the time thus gained enabled the Middle- porters to secure positions on the bank of the river commanding both the upper and lower fords, which, as Morgan had no artil- lery, they could have held against his entire force. He made no further attempt to cross and an hour later the Union cavalry reached the scene on the Ohio side. It is said that

Morgan actually surrendered there but es- caped in the darkness that night with his main body, and led the Union troops another race up through Athens and Morgan counties until finally captured and landed in the Ohio Penitentiary. But for that brave cour- pany of militia he would have escaped through West Virginia.

As stated by Captain Wilson the success of his company was largely due to the activity and zeal of his first sergeant, who was the only experienced officer in the command, and who gave him the benefit of knowledge gained from actual service in the field. That sergeant is still living, and widely known as the Rev. Dr. Earl Cranston, now of the "Western Methodist Book Concern."

A Pomeroy company, commanded by Capt. Cyrus Grant, also did excellent work by getting in the raiders' way just at such times and in such places as to make him think the "regulars " had reached the river ahead of him.

MIDDLEPORT is on the Ohio river, just below Pomeroy, at the terminus of the C. H. V. & T. R. R. and on the K. & O. R. R. City officers, 1888 : C. Down- ing, Mayor ; Wm. L. McMaster, Clerk ; Wm. M. Hartinger, Treasurer ; Chas. Hobbs, Marshal ; Geo. B. Skinner, Street Commissioner. Newspapers : Herald, Republican, W. C. Russell, editor ; Meigs County Republican, Independent, J. W. Dumble, editor and publisher. Churches : 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Christian, 1 Universalist, 1 New Church, 1 Free Will Baptist, 1 Colored Baptist, 1 Colored Methodist. Bank : Exchange (Moore & Co.), F. L. Moore, cashier.

Manufactures and Employees .- The German Furniture Co., 82 hands; Ohio Machine Co., 22; Standard Nail and Iron Co., iron, steel, etc., 500; Middleport Flour Co., 12; Garrett, McManigal & Co., building briek, etc., 25 ; S. D. Webb, flooring, etc., 3 .- Ohio State Report, 1888. Population, 1880, 3,032. School census, 1888, 854. Capital invested in industrial establishments, $162,500. Value of annual product, $208,000 .- Ohio Labor Statistics, 1887.

MINERSVILLE is just above and adjoining Pomeroy, on the Ohio, and has salt furnaces, extensive coal mines, and 1 Welsh Congregational, 1 Welsh Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church.

SYRACUSE is on the Ohio river, four and a half miles above Pomeroy, nearly adjoining Minersville. Its population is largely Welsh. It has 1 Welsh Con- gregational, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church. Its industries are salt and coal, one of the shafts going down perpendicularly eighty-seven feet. School census, 1888, 402.

RACINE is on the Ohio river, ten miles above Pomeroy. Newspaper : Tribune, Republican, W. G. Sibley, editor and publisher. Population, 1880, 453. School census, 1888, 246.

CHESTER, anciently the county-seat, and which in 1840 had 273 population. is eight miles northeast of Pomeroy, on Shade river.

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MERCER COUNTY.

MERCER.

MERCER COUNTY was formed from old Indian Territory April 1, 1820. The land is one great flat plain, and while in the forest state wet, when cleared and drained very fertile and well adapted to grass, small grain and Indian corn, which is its great production. Area about 470 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 140,633; in pasture, 12,023; woodland, 73,384; lying waste, 4,154 ; produced in wheat, 364,235 bushels; rye, 2,733; buckwheat, 667; oats, 632,537 ; barley, 12,881 ; corn, 1,287,610; meadow hay, 15,343 tons ; clo- ver hay, 8,334; flaxseed, 726 bushels; potatoes, 51,636; tobacco, 1,000 lbs .; butter, 415,750 ; cheese, 150 ; sorghum, 14,110 gallons ; maple syrup, 121 ; honey, 4,806 lbs .; eggs, 634,737 dozen ; grapes, 8,300 lbs .; wine, 1,387 gallons; sweet potatoes, 42 bushels ; apples, 14,558 ; peaches, 20 ; pears, 145; wool, 29,184 lbs. ; milch cows owned, 6,931 .- Ohio State Report, 1888.

School census, 1888, 9,269 ; teachers, 183. Miles of railroad track, 86.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

Black Creek,

340

1,441

Jefferson,

368

2,406

Butler,

178

1,595

Liberty,

1,196

Centre,

1,059

1,456

Marion,

1,141

1,933

Dublin,

705

2,027

Recovery,

298

1,272

Franklin,

1,015

Salem,

579

1,820

German,

1,499

St. Mary's,

1,515

Gibson,

1,462

Union,

566

Granville,

339

1,616

Washington,

214

1,384

Hopewell,

1,185

Wayne,

377

Population of Mercer in 1830, 1,- 737; 1840, 8,277; 1860, 14,104; 1880, 21,808, of whom 17,882 were born in Ohio; 586, Indiana; 451, Pennsylvania; 154, Virginia ; 93, Ken- tucky; 87, New York; 1,773, Ger- man Empire; 105, Ireland; 62, France; 42, England and Wales ; 27, British America, and 19 in Scotland. Census, 1890, 27,220.

This county was named from Gen- eral Hugh Mercer, who fell at the battle of Princeton, fought January 3, 1777. He was born in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, about the year 1720; he was educated there at the University ; he held the position of assistant surgeon in the army of Prince Charles Edward in the year 1745; in 1747 settled near what is now Mercersburg, Pa .; was wounded in Braddock's expedition ; at the out- break of the Revolution was practising medicine at Fredericksburg, Va .; in GENERAL HUGH MERCER. 1776, by request of Washington, was made brigadier-general ; led the column of attack at Trenton ; while rallying his men at Princeton was felled by a

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MERCER COUNTY.

blow from a musket, and, refusing to surrender, was bayonetted five times, and died some days afterwards in great agony. His funeral in the city of Philadelphia was attended by 30,000 people. Congress provided for the ed- ucation of his youngest son, and the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia reared to his memory a monument on Laurel Hill.

ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT.

This county has been the theatre of a most important event in the early history of the West-St. Clair's defeat. It took place on the southwest corner of the county, within two or three miles of the Indiana line.

The great object of St. Clair's campaign was to establish a military post at the Miami village, at the junction of the St. Mary and St. Joseph, at what is now Fort Wayne, Ind., with intermediate posts of communication between it and Fort Washington, to awe and curb the Indians in that quarter, as the only preventive of future hostilities.

Acting under his instructions, St. Clair proceeded to organize his army. At the close of April (1791) he was at Pittsburg, to which point troops and munitions of war were being forwarded. On the 15th of May he reached Fort Washington, but owing to various hindrances, among which was the mismanagement of the quartermaster's department, the troops, instead of being in readiness to start upon the expedition by the 1st of August, as was anticipated, were not prepared until many weeks later. From Fort Washington the troops were advanced to Lud- low's station, six miles distant. Here the army continned until September 17th, when, being 2,300 strong, exclusive of militia, they moved forward to a point upon the Great Miami, where they built Fort Hamilton. From thence they moved forty-four miles farther, and built Fort Jefferson, which they left on the 24th of October, and began their toilsome march through the wilderness. We copy below from the notes of Judge Burnet :

During this time a body of the militia, amounting to 300, deserted and returned to their homes. The supplies for the army being still in the rear, and the general enter- taining fears that the deserters might meet and seize them for their own use, determined, very reluctantly, to send back the first regi- ment for the double purpose of bringing up the provisions and, if possible, of overtaking and arresting some of the deserters.

Having made that arrangement, the army resumed its march, and, on the 3d of Novem- ber, arrived at a creek running to the south- west, which was supposed to be the St. Mary's, one of the principal branches of the Maumee, but was afterwards ascertained to be a branch of the Wabash. It being then late in the afternoon, and the army much fatigued by a laborious march, they were en- camped on a commanding piece of ground, having the creek in front.

It was the intention of the general to oc- cupy that position till the first regiment, with the provisions, should come up. He proposed on the next day to commence a work of de- fence, agreeably to a plan concerted between himself and Major Ferguson, but he was not permitted to do either ; for, on the next morn- ing, November 4th, half an hour before sun- rise, the men having been just dismissed from parade, an attack was made on the militia posted in front, who gave way and rushed back into camp, throwing the army into a

state of disorder, from which it could not be recovered, as the Indians followed close at their heels. They were, however, checked a short time by the fire of the first line, but immediately a very heavy fire was commenced on that line, and in a few minutes it was ex- tended to the second.

In each case the great weight of the fire was directed to the centre, where the artil- lery was placed, from which the men were frequently driven with great slaughter. In that emergency resort was had to the bayonet. Colonel Darke was ordered to make the charge with a part of the second line, which order was executed with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back several hundred yards, but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to preserve the advantage gained, the enemy soon re- newed their attack, and the American troops in turn were forced to give way.

At that instant the Indians entered the American camp on the left, having forced back the troops stationed at that point. Another charge was then ordered and made by the battalions of Majors Butler and Clark with great success. Several other charges were afterwards made, and always with equal effect. These attacks, however, were attended with a heavy loss of men, and particularly of officers. In the charge made by the second regiment Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of that regiment

224

MERCER COUNTY.

fell, except three, one o_ whom was shot through the body. The artillery being si- lenced, and all the officers belonging to it killed, but Captain Ford, who was danger- ously wounded, and half the army having fallen, it became necessary to gain the road, if possible, and make a retreat.

For that purpose a successful charge was made on the enemy, as if to turn their right flank, hut in reality to gain the road, which was effected. The militia then commenced a retreat, followed by the United States troops, Major Clark with his battalion covering the rear. The retreat, as might he expected, soon became a flight. The camp was aban- doned, and so was the artillery, for the want of horses to remove it. The men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit had ceased, which was not continued for more than four miles. The road was almost covered with these articles for a great distance.

All the horses of the general were killed and he was mounted on a broken-down pack- horse that could scarcely be forced out of a walk. It was, therefore, impossible for him to get forward in person, to command a halt, till regularity could be restored, and the orders which he dispatched by others for that pur- pose were wholly unattended to. The rout continued to Fort Jefferson, where they ar- rived about dark, twenty-seven miles from the battle-ground. The retreat began at half- past nine in the morning, and as the battle commenced half an hour before sunrise, it must have lasted three hours, during which time, with only one exception, the troops be- haved with great bravery. This fact accounts for the immense slaughter which took place.

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 31

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 916

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 916