Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 6

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

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near the place -- and pointed to two witches, hopping around, over and across the pile of embers, and now and then seizing a brand and throwing it into the air, and in a short while disappeared. The next morning, on examination, the defendant saw their tracks through the embers in all directions. At a subsequent time, he told the same witness and others, that from that time the witches had wholly disappeared from the neighbor- hood, and would never return-and to burn the animal alive, in which they were found, was the only way to get clear of them : he had been very fearful they would torment his family.

The writer found, after the above trial, from a conversation with the defendant, that he had a settled belief in such things, and in the truth of the above statement.

In our edition of 1846 we stated that the iron region is about eight miles wide. It ex- tends through the east part of Scioto, and the west part of this county, and enters Jackson county on the north, and Greenup county, Ky., on the south. Most of the iron in Lawrence is made into pig metal, which stands high for castings, and is equal to Scotch pig for foundry furnaces : it is also excellent for bar iron. The principal markets are Pittsburg and Cincinnati. The four counties of Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto and Greenup, Ky., make about 37,450 tons an- nually, which, at $30 per ton, the current market price, amounts to $1,123,500. There are 21 furnaces in the iron region, of which the following are in Lawrence, viz., Union, Pine Grove, Lawrence, Centre, Mount Ver- non, Buckhorn, Etna, Vesuvius, La Grange, Hecla and Olive. The oldest of these, in this county, is Union, built in 1826 by John Means, a view of which is given, showing on the left the furnace, in the middle ground the log-huts of the workmen, with the store of the proprietors, while around is wild, hilly scenery, amid which these furnaces are usu- ally embosomed. Each of the 21 furnaces employs, on an average, 70 yoke of oxen, "100 hands, sustains 500 persons, consumes 560 barrels of flour, 1,000 bushels of corn meal, 10,000 bushels of corn, 50,000 pounds of bacon, 20,000 pounds of beef, 1,500 bush- els of potatoes, beside other provisions, and tea, sugar and coffee in proportion." From this it will be seen, that their existence is highly important to the agriculturist. In the winter season about 500 men come from abroad, to ent wood for the furnaces in Law -. rence; some of whom walk distances of hundreds of miles from their cabin homes among the mountains of Virginia and Ken- tucky.

The HANGING ROCK IRON REGION is now understood to comprise an area of country embracing more than 1,000 square miles, extending into the States of Kentucky and West Virginia, and Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson and Vinton counties in Ohio, with its centre at Ironton. This vast mineral region, containing, besides its valuable iron ores, large and accessible deposits of coal, limestone and fire- clays, was in 1825 almost an unknown wilderness ; in 1845, as given in our orig-

LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846.

UNION FURNACE AND VILLAGE.

inar edition, it had 21 furnaces, while the Geological State Report of 1884 says of that part of it lying within Ohio : "This region comprises some 42 furnaces in blast and some in course of erection in the counties of Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, Scioto and Lawrence."

The purity of the iron ores in this district is attributable in a large measure to the fact that the plane of the veins lies far enough above the general water level to drain the water that accumulates from the rain fall, through the minerals and out into the streams. The dip of the strata being about 30 feet to the mile to the south of east, the inclination of all coals, ores, etc., gives a rapid fall in the direc- tion of the dip and renders it possible to run all material ont on tram tracks by gravitation, as well as to get rid of the water without expense.

The Hanging Rock ores are peculiarly adapted to the production of an iron of great strength and durability ; they are of the red hematite variety-the "hill- top " ores being largely used with underlying limestone ore. The productions of the Hecla furnace of this region are famous, being in special demand for machinery and car-wheels.

Prior to the late war the government made a test of irons with reference to ordnance, in which " the cold-blast Hecla was equalled only by results obtained from two furnaces, re- spectively located at Toledo, Spain, and in Asia Minor." During the late war every ton of Hecla iron (excepting armor plates) was used at the Fort Pitt Works, Pittsburg, for casting heavy ordnance and field guns, and ran far above the government required test for tenacity. The celebrated gun known as the "Swamp Angel," of Charleston Har- bor, was cast from Hecla iron. There is direct authority for stating that car wheels of this iron have been in use for twenty years. In a memorial to Congress (1862) for the es-

tablishment of a national foundry at Ironton, we find the statement of one who was em- ployed by the English government in 1855, that "while thus employed, my particular duties were to make selection and mixture of metal for heavy ordnance for service in the Crimea. This employment required the making of numerous tests on different metals, to determine their tenacity, deflection and specific gravity." The cold-blast pig made in Lawrence county, Ohio, was found supe- rior not only to the irons of a similar make in other portions of the United States, but also, "as compared with the best English iron, the difference is about thirty per cent. in favor of this metal."

IRONTON, county-seat of Lawrence, is on the Ohio river, ten miles from the southernmost point in Ohio, 100 miles south of Columbus, 142 miles above Cincinnati, and 325 miles from Pittsburg. It is the centre of the Hanging Rock iron region, celebrated for the quantity and quality of iron ore, lime and coal, found in close proximity. The timber regions of the Virginias and Kentucky supply one of the large industries of the city, and large quantities of fire and pot-

Lawrence Barrette, Photo., Ironton, 1887.

J. N. Bradford, del., Ohio State University.

IRONTON, FROM THE KENTUCKY SHORE.

LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ters' clay found in this vicinity create another great industry. Ironton was laid out in 1848, by the Ohio Iron and Coal Co., and was incorporated as a city in 1865. The first iron smelted in the region was at a cupola built in 1815, by Richard Deering. In 1852 the county-seat was removed here from Burlington. Railroads : D. Ft. W. & C., S. V., and the Ironton, while by transfer across the Ohio river connection is had with the C. & O. Railroad. County Officers : Au- ditor, Mark S. Bartram ; Clerk, John W. Sayre ; Commissioners, Charles Bramer, Elisha T. Edwards, Thompson F. Payne ; Coroner, John S. Henry ; Infirmary Di- rectors, Isaac Massie, Zachary T. Fugitt, William H. Heiner ; Probate Judge, Lot Davis; Prosecuting Attorney, George W. Keye ; Recorder, Paschal F. Gil- lett ; Sheriff, John L. Fisher ; Surveyor, James T. Egerton ; Treasurer, Joseph A. Turley. City Officers : John M. Corns, Mayor ; Halsey C. Burr, Clerk ; John Hayes, Treasurer ; John K. Richards, Solicitor ; J. R. C. Brown, Engineer ; W. L. Vanhorn, Marshal ; John Culkins, Street Commissioner ; William George, Chief Fire Department. Newspapers : Register, Republican, E. S. Wilson, edi- tor ; Republican, Republican, Hayden & McCall, proprietors ; Irontonian, Dem- ocratic, L. P. Ort, proprietor ; Wachter am Ohio, German, Independent, Christian Feuchter, editor. Churches : two Catholic, two Methodist Episcopal, one Baptist, one Lutheran, one Congregational, one Calvinistic Methodist, one German Re- formed, one Presbyterian, one Episcopalian, one German Methodist, one Christian and three Colored. Banks: Exchange (W. D. Kelly), W. D. Kelly, cashier ; First National, George Willard, president, H. B. Wilson, cashier; Second Na- tional, C. C. Clarke, president, Richard Mather, cashier ; Halsey C. Burr & Co.

Manufactures and Employees .- C. H. Crowell, lumber, 12 hands ; D., Ft. W. & C. Railroad Shop, railroad repairs, 25; Phillips Carriage Works, 10; the Foster Stove Co., stoves and ranges, 50; Whitman Stove Co., stoves and ranges, 60; Sarah Furnace, pig-iron, 50; Standard Gas Retort and Fire-brick Co., 30; Etna Furnace, pig-iron, 100; Ironton Fire-brick Co., 30; R. N. Fearon, lumber, 12; Ironton Lumber Co., lumber, 6 ; the Kelly Nail and Iron Co., 375; New- man & Spanner, lumber, 60; Ironton Furnace Co., pig-iron, 50; Ironton Car- riage Works, carriages and buggies ; Ironton Soap Works, soap; Lawrence Iron and Steel Co., 300; Lambert Bros. & Co., furnace machinery, etc., 50; R. S. Dupuy, oak harness leather, 11; Eagle Brewery, 10; the Goldcamp Milling Co., 9 .- State Report, 1888. Population in 1880, 8,857. School census, 1888, 3,528 ; R. S. Page, school superintendent. Capital invested in industrial estab- lishments, $1,790,900. Value of annual product, $1,518,225 .- Ohio Labor Sta- tistics, 1887. U. S. census, 1890, 10,939.

From a newspaper correspondeuce published in 1887, we extract some inter- esting items of history and reminiscences of the early iron trade:

In 1819 there went from Spartanburg, S. C., to Hanging Rock, on the Ohio side of the river, a certain man named John Means, carrying his slaves with him. He was an abolitionist, but not being able to manumit his slaves in his native State, he sold his pos- sessions there, and with his family and ne- groes emigrated to the nearest point where he could set them free. In 1826 John Means built a charcoal furnace near his home, and began the manufacture of pig-iron. The Union, as he named it, was the first iron furnace north of the Ohio in this district. In Ashland your correspondent met Mr. Thomas W. Means, a son of the pioneer fur- nace-builder. This gentleman, now 83 years old, has a vivid recollection of those early times, and of the hardships which all who made iron had to endure because of free- trade tendencies and laws. In 1837 he leased

the Union Furnace of his father, and ever since he has been connected with it as lessee or owner. At first they made from three to four tons a day, and when they increased the output to thirty tons a week, it was consid- ered a wonderful performance.

Speaking of those days, Mr. Means said : " When I leased Union Furnace corn sold for twelve and a half cents a bushel, and wheat for from twenty-four to twenty-six cents. Wages for competent laborers were only ten dollars a month. I made a trip to New Orleans and saw wheat sold there for a quarter of a dollar a bushel, and corn on the cob at the same price per barrel.

" We used only maple sugar in those days, and paid for the commonest molasses thirty- two cents a gallon. Our woollen goods were woven on hand-looms. It took six yards of calico to make a dress, and the material cost

LAWRENCE COUNTY.

half a dollar a yard. There are more people in Ironton now than there were then in the county. We saw no gold, and little silver coin, except in small pieces. Our circulation was chiefly bills of State banks, and those were continually breaking. From 1854 to 1861 I kept my furnaces going, but sold very little iron-only enough to keep me in ready money.

Charcoal iron was then worth from $10 to $14 a ton. In 1863 I had an accumulated stock of 16,000 tons. Next year it advanced to $40, which I thought a fine lift, but in 1864 it netted me $80 a ton. For eight years before the war, nearly all the furnace-owners were in debt, but creditors did not distress them, for they were afraid of iron, the only asset they could get, and so they carried their customers the best they could, hoping all round for better times. We are all right and so is the country, if the fools will quit tariff- meddling."

JOHN CAMPBELL was born near Ripley, Ohio, January 14, 1808. In 1834 he re- moved to Hanging Rock, and became identi- fied with the iron interests of this region, building in connection with Robert Hamilton the Mount Vernon Furnace. The "Bio- graphical Cyclopædia of Ohio " says of him : ' It was here that he made the change of placing the boilers and hot blast over the tunnel head, thus utilizing the waste gases- a proceeding now generally adopted by the charcoal furnaces of that locality and others elsewhere in the United States." In 1837, through the guarantee against any loss by Mr. Campbell and three other iron-masters,

Vesuvius Furnace was induced to test the hot blast principle. This, the first hot blast ever erected in America, was put up by William Firmstone, and though, by those opposed to the principle, it was contended that by it the iron would be weakened and rendered unfit for casting purposes, the result proved satis- factory to all concerned in producing an in- creased quantity of iron of the desired quality for foundry use.

"In 1849 he became prime mover and principal stockholder in the organization of the Ohio Iron and Coal Company, and was made its president. 'This company purchased four hundred acres of land three miles above Hanging Rock, and laid out the town of Iron- ton, to which Mr. Campbell gave its name."

He is justly accorded the honor of being called the "father and founder of Ironton."

In 1850 he removed from Hanging Rock to the newly founded town, and has ever since been prominently identified with its remarkable growth and development, as well as that of the entire surrounding region.

In 1852 he purchased the celebrated Hecla cold blast furnace.

He now enjoys in his old age the venera- tion and respect of all who know of him and his grand life-work, in developing the indus- tries and wealth of this region, bringing as it has increased comforts and happiness to a large number of his fellow-men.

To no other single individual is so much due for developing the resources of Hanging Rock Iron Region.

For a personal description of Mr. Campbell see Vol. I., page 237.

Hanging Rock in 1846 .- Hanging Rock, seventeen miles below the county- seat, on the Ohio river, contains 1 church, 4 stores, a forge, a rolling mill, and a foundry-where excellent bar iron is made-and about 150 inhabitants. It is the great iron emporium of the county, and nearly all the iron is shipped there. It is contemplated to build a railroad from this place, of about fifteen miles in length, to the iron region, connecting it with the various furnaces. The village is named from a noted cliff of sandstone, about four hundred feet in height, called the " Hanging Rock," the upper portion of which projects over, like the cornice of a house.

Some years since, a wealthy iron-master was buried at Hanging Rock, in com- pliance with his request, above ground, in an iron coffin. It was raised about two feet from the ground, supported by iron pillars, resting on a flat stone. Over all was placed an octagonal building of wood, about twelve feet diameter and fifteen high, painted white, with a cupola-like roof, surmounted by a ball. It was, in fact, a tomb, but of so novel a description as to attract crowds of strangers, to the no small annoyance of the friends of the deceased, who, in consequence, removed the building, and sunk the coffin into a grave near the spot .- Old Edition.

HANGING ROCK is on the Ohio river, four miles below Ironton. Population, 1880, 624. School census, 1888, 214.

Burlington in 1846 .- Burlington, the county-seat, is on the southernmost point of the Ohio river in the State, one hundred and thirty-three miles south- easterly from Columbus. It is a small village, containing 4 stores, an academy, 1 or 2 churches, a newspaper printing office, and from 40 to 60 dwellings .- Edition of 1846.

LAWRENCE COUNTY.

It lies about ten miles southeast of Ironton, the present county-seat, nearly opposite Catlettsburg, Ky., and in 1888 its school census was. 211.

MILLERSPORT, P. O. MILLER's, is thirty-three miles above Ironton, on the Ohio river. Population, 1880, 250. School census, 1888, 82.

PROCTORVILLE is on the Ohio river, twenty miles above Ironton. News- paper : Ohio Valley News, Republican, Dwight W. Custer, editor and publisher, It has 1 Methodist Episcopal church. Population, 1880, 385.

The development of the mineral resources of Southeastern Ohio is due largely to the study of its geology by Dr. CALEB BRIGGS, born in North Rochester, Mass., May 24, 1812, but long a resident of Ironton, O., where he died September 24, 1884. He was educated for a physician. He was engaged in the first survey of the coal and iron regions of Ohio, entering upon the work in June, 1837, and exploring Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence and Scioto counties. Subsequently he also made surveys in Crawford, Tuscarawas, Wood, and perhaps other counties, terminating his earliest labors in 1839, after which he was employed in similar work in the western counties of Virginia. He was an extremely intelligent, use- ful, broad-minded and benevolent citizen, giving to Ironton, the city of his adoption, $25,000 with which to found a public library.

LICKING COUNTY.

LICKING.

LICKING COUNTY was erected from Fairfield, March 1, 1808, and named from its principal stream, called by the whites Licking-by the Indians, Pataskala. The surface is slightly hilly on the cast, the western part is level, and the soil generally yellow clay ; the valleys are rich alluvium, inclining many of them to gravel. Coal is in the eastern part, and iron ore of a good quality. The soil is generally very fertile, and it is a wealthy agricultural county. Area about 680 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 144,092; in pasture, 172,844 ; woodland, 55,038 ; lying waste, 2,868 ; produced in wheat, 510,655 bushels ; rye, 7,490; buckwheat, 1,111; oats, 324,441; barley, 6,045; corn, 1,518,435 ; broom-corn, 18,545 lbs. brush ; meadow hay, 47,277 tous; clover hay, 6,862 ; flaxseed, 1,752 bushels ; potatoes, 92,930; tobacco, 100 lbs. ; butter, 909,118 ; cheese, 7,052 ; sorghum, 2,114 gallons ; maple syrup, 21,138; honey, 3,399 lbs .; eggs, 908,128 dozen ; grapes, 28,935 lbs .; wine, 20 gallons; sweet potatoes, 152 bushels ; apples, 15,794; peaches, 14,448 ; pears, 1,667 ; wool, 1,155,992 lbs .; milch cows owned, 8,908; sheep, the largest number of any county in Ohio, namely, 174,672. School census, 1888, 12,602 ; teachers, 440. Miles of railroad track, 159.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

Bennington,

1,244

884

Liberty,

1,115

752

Bowling Green,

1,464

992

Licking,

1,215

1,256

Burlington,

1,423

1,073

Lima,

739

1,803

Eden,

853

767

Madison,

1,119

929

Etna,

1,076

1,166

Mary Anne,

866

951

Fallsburg,

910

929

McKean,

1,424

981

Franklin,

1,131

818

Monroe.

1,339

Granville,

2,255

2,114

Newark,

4,138

10,613

Hanover,

943

1,236

Newton,

1,247

1,332

Harrison,

1,049

1,329

Perry,

994

1,032

Hartford,

1,355

1,164

St. Albans,

1,515

1,187

Hopewell,

1,150

1,062

Union,

2,219

1,872

Jersey,

932

1,348

Washington

3,048

1,521

Population of Licking in 1820 was 11,861; 1830, 20,864; 1840, 35,096; 1860, 37,011; 1880, 40,050, of whom 32,736 were born in Ohio; 1,461 Virginia ; 1,336 Pennsylvania ; 669 New York; 156 Indiana ; 51 Kentucky ; 782 England and Wales; 611 Ireland ; 511 German Empire; 54 Scotland ; 49 British America, and 29 France. Census, 1890, 43,279.

With Butler county, which has 1,000 bridges in use, this county is also noted for its bridges. The streams which unite to form the Licking spread over it like the fingers of the hand. Hence it takes as much bridging as half-a-dozen of the counties on the dividing ridge of the State.

This county contains a mixed population ; its inhabitants originated from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, New England, Wales, and Germany. Among the early settlers were John Channel, Isaac Stadden, John Van Buskirk, Benjamin Green, Samuel Parr, Samuel Elliott, John and Washington Evans, Geo. Archer, John Jones, and many Welsh. It was first settled, shortly after Wayne's treaty of 1795, by John Ratliff and Ellis Hughes, in some old Indian corn-fields, about five miles below Newark, on the Licking. These men were from Western Virginia. They lived mainly by hunting, raising, however, a little corn, the cultivation of which was left, in a great measure, to their wives.

LICKING COUNTY.

Hughes had been bred in the hot-bed of Indian warfare. The Indians having, at an early day, murdered a young woman to whom he was attached, and subsequently his father, the return of peace did not mitigate his hatred of the race. One night, in April, 1800, two Indians stole the horses of Hughes and Ratliff from a little enclosure near their cabins. Missing them in the morning, they started off, well armed, in pursuit, accom- panied by a man named Bland. They fol- lowed their trail in a northern direction all day, and at night camped in the woods. At the gray of the morning they came upon the Indians, who were asleep and unconscious of danger. Concealing themselves behind the trees, they waited until the Indians had awakened, and were commencing prepara- tions for their journey. They drew up their rifles to shoot, and just at that moment one of the Indians discovered them, and instinc- tively clapping his hand on his breast, as if to ward off the fatal ball, exclaimed in tones of affright, "me bad Indian !- me no do so more !" The appeal was in vain, the smoke curled from the glistening barrels, the report rang in the morning air, and the poor Indians fell dead. They returned to their cabins with the horses and "plunder " taken from the Indians, and swore mutual secrecy for this violation of law.

One evening, some time after, Hughes was quietly sitting in his cabin, when he was startled by the entrance of two powerful and well-armed savages. Concealing his emotions, he gave them a welcome and offered them seats. His wife, a muscular, squaw-like look- ing female, stepped aside and privately sent for Ratliff, whose cabin was near. Presently, Ratliff, who had made a detour, entered with his rifle, from an opposite direction, as if he had been out hunting. He found Hughes talking with the Indians about the murder. Hughes had his tomahawk and scalping-knife, as was his custom, in a belt around his per- son, but his rifle hung from the cabin wall, which he deemed it imprudent to attempt to obtain. There all the long night sat the parties, mutually fearing each other, and neither summoning sufficient courage to stir. When morning dawned, the Indians left, shaking hands and bidding farewell, but, in their retreat, were very cautious not to be shot in ambush by the hardy borderers.

Hughes died near Utica, in this county, in March, 1845, at an advanced age, in the hope of a happy future. His early life had been one of much adventure ; he was, it is supposed, the last survivor of the bloody battle of Point Pleasant. He was buried with military honors and other demonstra- tions of respect.

THE BURLINGTON STORM.

On the 18th of May, 1825, occurred one of the most violent tornadoes ever known in Ohio. It has been commonly designated as "the Burlington storm," because in Burlington township, in this county, its effects were more severely felt than in any other part of its track. This event is told in the language of a correspondent.

It commenced between the hours of one and two P., M., in the southeast part of Delaware county. After passing for a few miles upon the surface of the ground, in an easterly direction, it appeared to rise so high from the earth that the tallest trees were not affected by it, and then again descended to the surface, and with greatly increased violence and force proceeded through the townships of Ben- nington and Burlington, in Licking county, and then passed into Knox county, and thence to Coshocton county. Its general course was a little north of east. For force and violence of wind this storm has rarely been surpassed in any country in the same latitude. Forests and orchards were com- pletely uprooted and levelled, buildings blown down, and their parts scattered in every direction and carried by the force of the wind many miles distant. Cattle were taken from the ground and carried one hundred rods or more. The creek, which had been swollen by recent rains, had but little water in its bed after the storm had passed. The roads and fields, recently plowed, were quite muddy from previous rains ; but after the storm had passed by, both roads and fields were clean and dry. Its track through Lick-

ing county was from one-third to three-fifths of a mile wide, but became wider as it ad- vanced farther to the eastward. Those who were so fortunate as to be witnesses of its progress, without being victims of its fury, represent the appearance of the fragments of trees, buildings, etc., high in the air, to resemble large numbers of birds, such as buzzards, or ravens. The ground, also, seemed to tremble, as it is asserted by many credible persons, who were, at the time, a mile from the tornado itself. The roar of the wind, the trembling of the ground, and the crash of the falling timber and buildings, is represented by all who were witnesses as being peculiarly dreadful.

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 6

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