History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 76

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 76

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This mill was formerly operated by Messrs. Rob- erts & Clements, and Mr. J. Anderson, but has been owned and managed by Mr. Mitchell for three years past. Originally a very good mill, the pres- ent proprietor made many material improvements. It is provided with the latest improved machinery, operated by a steam engine of adequate power. Doors, frames, sash, blinds, mouldings and scroll work of all kinds are inanufactured. Four or five competent mechanics being countinually employed. The yearly business is rarely less than ten thousand dollars.

The Linseed oil manufactory of James Israel is located on the corner of West Gambier and Norton streets, and was originally started by Mr. Henry Johnson, who was succeeded by the firm of John- son & Israel, the latter gentleman coming into sole possession in 1870. The oil mill is thirty by one hundred and twenty feet in size, and the machinery is operated by a thirty-five horse-power engine. The warehouse here is forty by fifty feet in dimen- sions, and at Howard station, fifteen miles west on the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad is another equally large. The articles manufac- tured are raw and boiled linseed oil, oil cake and oil meal, very largely used for food for stock by stock growers in all parts of the country. Grain and seeds of all kinds are also dealt in to a large extent, con- signments of which are continually being made. The business amounts to one hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars per annum, for the prompt transaction of which the facilities are especially complete in every respect. Direct connection is had between the warehouses and the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus rail- road, while the counting-rooms are in wired com- munication with the Western Union and the At- lantic & Pacific telegraph offices.

The Mt. Vernon Bridge company was recently incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

for the building of wrought iron bridges. It has a | was succeeded by Mr. A. A. Taylor, who be paid up cash capital of forty thousand dollars. came theowner of the property by purchase. The splendid quality of the flour he produced has gained a high local reputation, and the mills are taxed to their full capacity to supply the growing demand. The president is Mr. John S. Braddock; its secre- tary and treasurer, Mr. John M. Ewalt; and the management and superintendency are in the hands of Mr. P. E. Lane and the secretary. This com- pany is in command of excellent facilities, a large corps of experienced and faithful workmen, and ample steam power. It has already done consid- erable substantial work in this State, and has been compelled to enlarge its works in order to meet the requirements of a growing patronage. At a recent meeting of the stockholders a dividend of six per cent was declared.

The leather manufactory of Penich & Ransom is located on West Gambier street, and came into their hands in 1878, up to which time it had been carried on by Mr. George E. Raymond. The works consist of a tannery, eighty by one hundred feet, seventy vats, and three large finishing rooms, heated by steam throughout, and furnished with the most improved appliances. A twenty-five horse-power engine is operated by steam from a forty horse-power boiler. Two rotary pumps for liquor and water are in constant action. A work- ing force of a dozen hands is employed, and the capacity of the establishment is six thousand pieces per annum.

The Norton City mills were established in 1817 by the late Daniel S. Norton, who continued to operate them up to his death, October 25, r859, when they came into the possession of his son, George K., who continued to operate them until his death. The mill known as the "old red mill " was first etected. A carding and fulling-mill, a saw-mill, and a custom flour-mill are in operation within its walls. The large four-story frame mer- chant mill was erected about 1845. Attached to these mills is a large three-story frame warehouse, and a large granary for the storing of corn. Some years since a stock-yard and hay scales were added. In 1875 this extensive property was rented by Messrs. James Rogers and Samuel J. Brent, who kept both mills in constant operation up to the fall of 1879, when Mr. Brent retired from the firm, having been elected clerk of the court. Mr. Rogers continued in possession, and con- ducted the mills to January 1, 1881, when he

The Eagle City mills, West Vine street, were put in operation July, 1876, by E. J. Chase, a practical miller. Its four run of stone and a corn sheller are operated by steam power. The building is a two-story brick, and is fitted up with all the modern improved machinery necessary to render it a model grist-mill, and is pushed to its utmost capacity to supply the demand made up- on it.

The marble and granite works of I. M. Hoover, are located on the corner of West Gambier and Mulberry streets. In February, 1866, Mr. Hoover purchased this business from Mr. L. C. Barnes, under whose management it had been carried on many years. The building occupied is twenty-six by forty-eight feet in dimensions, and is supplied with all the machinery, tools and work- men requisite for first-class production.

The marble works of I. B. McKenna are located on the northwest corner of the public square. This firm erected the present soldiers' monument on the square, and was established about ten years ago.

Among the manufacturing establishments may be mentioned the carriage and buggy factories that daily turn out vehicles of superior finish and work- manship. The business now carried on by Mr. Hezekiah Groff was originally established by Mr. William Sanderson, sr., over a quarter of a century ago, and is noted for its excellent workmanship. David Sanderson, has a large establishment for the manufacture of carriages near the depot of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon and Columbus railroad. Mr. George D. Neal has a similar establishment near the Rowley house. In the fall of 1880 his works were partially destroyed by fire. They have been repaired, and Mr. Neal is busily engaged in stocking his salesroom. Abraham Stokes has been manufacturing wagons at his establishment on North Norton street for a number of years.

In addition to the foregoing several smaller es- tablishments are in active operation, and every year

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

contribute not a little to swell the manufacturing business of Mt. Vernon, among which may be men- tioned the pump factory of H. K. Cotton. The "Collins force pump" is meeting with an extensive sale. There are also severa+ cigar factories, among them being those of C. F. Brent, a wholesale estab lishment: T. P. Fredericks, jr., established in the Kremlin block in 1877, and R. A. Kendrick, west side of South Main street. These establishments employ quite a number of workmen.

The Cleveland, Mt. Vernon and Columbus rail- road, considerably augmented the manufacturing as well as other business of Mt. Vernon, and at the present date the entire business of this pleasant little city is in a healthy condition, and the city itself seems to be moving forward.

The population, according to the census of 1870, was four thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. By the census of 1880, the population by wards was as follows: First ward, one thousand and fifty- one; Second ward, six hundred and thirty-four; Third ward, nine hundred and sixty-seven; Fourth ward, nine hundred and thirteen, and Fifth ward, one thousand six hundred and eighty-four-total, five thousand two hundred and forty-nine.

Following is the list of residents of Mt. Vernon who are eighty wears of age or over. The first col- uinn is the year in which they were born. Their ages added make four thousand two hundred and sixty, and their average age is eighty-three and two third years :

1799 -- Michael Boyle. .81

1799-Samuel Bryant. .81

1794-Anson Buckland. .86 1797-Mrs. Sophia Browning. .83

1798-William Broadhurts. 82

1798-Philo Bixby. 82

1735-Mrs. Sarah Calkins. .95

1789-James Crowl. .. .91

1793-Mrs. James Crowl. .87

1791-Mrs. William Curtis. .89

1799-Henry B. Curtis. 81

1794-Matthew Cochran. .86

1799-George Crouse. .81

1792-Thomas Evans 88

1800-S. G. Freelove. .80 1800-Martin Flynn. .80

1800-Margaret Flynn. .80

1792-Mrs. Eliza Graham .88

1798-Martha Graham. .82

1705-Isaac Grant. .85

1799-Mrs. Isaac Grant. 81

1794-Abel Hart, sr .. 86

1795-Isaac Hadley .. 85

18cx -- John Hersh. 80

1708 -- Diana Hunt .. .82

1799 -Richard Hookway. .81

1796 -- Mrs. Nancy Kindrick .8.4

1798 -Catharine Keigley. .82

1 1797-John Linn 83

1798-Rev. Joseph Muenscher 82

1797 -- Mrs. Lydia Mitchell .. 83

1800 -- Mrs. Ann Martin. .80

1793 -- Nathan Magers .. 87

1793 --- Mrs. Nathan Magers. .87

1798-Mrs. H. M. Mefford. 82

1799 -John Miller .. . 81

1800 -- Elizabeth Noble. 80

1794-Eliza Phillipps.

1800-Elisie Perrin .80

1790-Mrs. Samuel Rowley .90

1795-E. S. S. Rouse. .85

1798-Mrs. E. S. S. Rouse. 82

1788-Mrs. Mary Roberts .92

1800-John S. Roberts. .80

1794-John True 86

1800-Samuel Taylor. .80

1799-Mrs. T. Vantassel. . .81

1796-John S. Wartley .8.4

1800-Nahunı Williams .. 80

1800-Stephen Welshı. .80

CHAPTER XLIII.

MOUNT VERNON-CONCLUDED.

THE CITY CHURCHES- THE PRESBYTERIAN-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-METHODIST PROTESTANT-FIRST BAPTIST --- ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL-ST. VINCENT DEPAUL-CONGREGA- TIONAL-DISCIPLE-LUTHERAN-UNITED PRESBYTERIAN -AFRICAN METHODIST.

IN THE summer and autumn of 1799 a com- pany, consisting of nine or ten families living in Green county, Pennsylvania, concluded to form themselves into a colony for the purpose of emigra ting to the territory of Ohio, of which Knox county now forms a part. The patriarch, or the oldest man of the colony, was William Leonard, then in his eighty-third or eighty-fourth year. Pre- vious to the time, when on an exploring expedition looking for land, in company with one or two others, he met with some men, owners of large tracts of military lands in this State, who con- ducted him to the place where Mt. Vernon now

CLARK'S AUTOMATIC Cro GRAIN SHOVELER

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

405

stands, then an unbroken wilderness, and showed him a tract of eight hundred and forty-seven acres one mile south of Mt. Vernon, on the Newark road, which he bought, paying for the same one dollar and fifty cents per acre. He then returned to Pennsylvania to make arrangements for removal. These, for some reason, were not completed until about 1804, when the following persons started for their wilderness home: William Leonard and his oldest son, Amos Leonard; John Mills and family, Henry Haines and family, Ebenezer Brown and family, William Knight, Ziba Leonard, sr., and his son Benjamin, and Peter Baxter.

They arrived here about the first of May, 1804. and commenced at once to improve the land above referred to. After the spring crop had been planted, and the cabins and shanties erected, a few of the emigrants went back to Pennsylvania to aid in removing the remainder of the colony. On the fourteenth day of November of the same year, they returned, bringing with them the family of Peter Baxter, Levi Harrod and family, and the family of William Knight. On the day of their arrival a daughter of Peter Baxter died, having been taken sick on the journey. She was the first white person known to have been buried in the county. With two or three exceptions the mem- bers of this colony were professors of religion. Those belonging to the Presbyterian church were William Leonard, Amos Leonard, Ziba Leonard, sr., Ebenezer Brown, Rachel Mills, wife of John Mills ; and Mary Knight, wife of William Knight.

The history of Presbyterianism in this region probably begins with these settlers, they being the first of that denomination in the county. Although the Methodist and Baptist denominations had a few representatives in the colony, there was no sec- tarian feeling among them. By mutual agreement they were accustomed from the first to meet to- gether for prayer and conference on the Sabbath and Thursday evenings at Ziba Leonard's, his home being the largest and most central. Their weekly meetings were somewhat peculiar, but very inter- esting. They were attended by the principal part of the colony. The religious services were followed by a supper, which was partaken of by all present.

Early in the spring the little colony was re-en- forced by the addition of the families of Abner

Brown, sr., and Abner Brown, jr., from Green county, Pennsylvania, and of John and Jacob Cook, from Washington county. They were, how- ever, without a minister of the gospel. There was not one living near enough to afford them even occasional preaching. This, of course, detracted much from their spiritual comfort, as well as sub- jected them sometimes to great inconvenience, as is evident from the following incident: During the summer (probably 1805) two young men, Daniel Dimick and Amoriah Watson, millwrights by trade, came into the neighborhood, and entered into a contract with William Douglass, who had some time previous to this joined the colony, to build him a mill. They were here but a short time until they succeeded in forming a contract of a more tender and serious nature-that of mar- riage-with two daughters of Ziba Leonard. The day for the solemnization of the marriage was fixed, and every preparation made, when on the evening before the day of the nuptials, it was dis- covered that there was no one who was properly authorized to solemnize marriages nearer than the town of New Lancaster, fifty miles distant, and reached only by a bridle path through the forest. The wedding of course could not be deferred. The proper official must be had, even if he should come from New Lancaster. Accordingly two men, Peter Baxter and Henry Haines, set out that very evening for that place. After riding all that night and all the next day, they returned about midnight of the second day with the necessary papers, a justice of the peace and his constable, and imme- diately upon their arrival the marriage ceremony was performed in the presence of the waiting as- sembly, which consisted of nearly all the settlers, together with a number of Indians.

In the spring of 1805, the patriarch of the col- ony, William Leonard, who had been its religious leader, died, in his eighty-seventh or eighty-eighth year. He was a good man, and his loss was deeply felt. He was buried on his own land under the shade of a wide-spreading beech.

His son, Amos Leonard, by common consent, became the leading person in the ecclesiastical affairs of the settlement. He was a very worthy, consistent man, and was for many years of great spiritual service to the people.

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

The following spring and summer brought a large accession of emigrants from Green and Washing- ton counties, Pennsylvania, among whom were other families of the Harrods and Browns, together with those of the Hunts, Dotys, and Boyles, set- tling mostly south of the Leonards, thereby extend- ing the boundary of the colony to what was known as the Bell settlement. These families, together with that of James Loveridge, who settled north of Mt. Vernon, constituted the additions to the Pres- byterian element of the settlement during that year. The home of Jonathan Hunt, being more central, was chosen as the place for meeting on the Sab- bath instead of Ziba Leonard's.

About 1806 Rev. James Scott visited the new settlement and preached in the house of Ziba Leon- ard, sr., the first Presbyterian sermon preached in the county. In 1806 Mr. Scott preached a few sermons in Newark, and it was probably about that time that he visited this place.

The town of Clinton had been laid out, and some improvements made in it. Mt. Vernon was laid out in 1805. Additions of families, principally from Pennsylvania, were frequently made. Among them were the Presbyterian fami- lies of James Colville and Robert Work.

In the summer of 1806 or 1807, the members of the settlement concluded that the time had come for erecting a house of worship. Selecting a place for it on the road south of Hunt's, Amos Leonard cut the logs and the neighbors hauled and raised them. The logs of which the church build- ing was made were unhewn, the roof was of clap- boards, and the floor was the bare earth. Round logs laid on the ground constituted the seats. Two small poles of the proper height set in the ground, with a board pinned on the top of them, formed the pulpit, and a board laid on two pins driven in- to a log immediately behind the pulpit, made the seat for the minister. Thus rudely constructed and incomplete, was the house dedicated to the worship of God, probably the first house of wor- ship in the county. The dedication service was undoubtedly performed by Father Scott. A part, perhaps the most, of those who worshipped in that house in the summer of 1808, were organized into a church by the Rev. John Wright, of Lancaster. It was first called "Ebenezer," that being the

given-name of the oldest man in the organization.

Prior to 1808 a church had been organized at Clinton. Among its members were James Love- ridge and wife, James Colville, wife, and two sisters, Robert Work and wife, Mrs. Park, wife of James Park, Josiah Day, Edward Marquis and wife, and Isabel Bonar, wife of Barnet Bonar. April 5, 1809, the three churches in the county, Ebenezer, Clinton, and Frederick, had together only twenty-eight members.

When it became apparent to the members that the old building at Clinton (erected about 1814) must be abandoned, and a new house for the use of the congregation put up, arrangements were made for locating the church in Mt. Vernon, but the construction of the building was not deter- mined upon until 1821. The congregation in the meantime worshipped in the old court house, which was used in common by all denominations. The place where the church now stands was chosen as the site for the house. Land being cheap, and a good deal of ground being needed for hitching- places, and also for a burial place, the entire square, with the exception of the two lots where the Third ward school-house stands, was procured.

Some time during the year 1821 a house of wor- ship was commenced. The church being small, not numbering over fifty members, and money be- ing scarce, it was no small undertaking. The greater part of the building fund was raised by sell- ing seats from a plat of the interior of the church previous to its erection. From the sale of fifty- three seats two thousand three hundred and one dollars were realized. The highest paid for a seat was forty dollars, the lowest ten dollars. The seats were the property of the purchaser absolutely. From subscriptions one hundred and thirty-six dol- lars were realized, making in all two thousand four hundred and thirty-seven dollars. March 15, 1824, the building was finished, and all accounts there- on paid. It was found that the cost was two thousand four hundred and thirty-seven dollars, just the amount previously secured. The building was of brick made by Stephen D. Minton. The structure was fifty by forty-five, and stood with its gables east and west. In each end were large double doors, which opened into an aisle seven feet in width, extending the whole length of the

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

building. On the south side were two single doors, each of which opened into an aisle four feet in width which terminated in the main aisle just de- scribed. In the central portion of the building at suitable distances apart were four posts to sustain the roof, such a thing as a self-supporting roof being then unknown. The pulpit was on the north side, and according to the prevailing style of church architecture, was five feet from the floor, and was reached by six steps. The height of the build- ing was fourteen feet. Immediately in front of the pulpit was the singers' stand. This was two feet and a half from the floor, and was reached by three steps. There the leader of the singing, or what was then called the clerk, sat. The stand was fur- nished with what in those days was regarded as in- dispensable-a sounding board. The pulpit, the singers' stand, and the sounding board were painted blue. The rest of the house was without paint of any kind. September 13, 1827, the name of the congregation was changed from Clinton to that of Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Scott continued to minister to three churches, living here, and preaching every third sabbath in each place. On the fifteenth of April, 1840, he resigned his charge of the Mt. Vernon church. After this he continued to preach in the surround- ing country, and in vacant places till within two weeks of his death, which occurred September, 1851, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Mr. Scott was born east of the mountains, probably in Chester county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1773. He was of Scottish descent. His parents removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania. He gradua- ted at Cannonsburgh in the early history of that college, and first preached in this country sometime during the summer of 1806, beginning his regular labors here probably in 1807. Being at that time unmarried, he boarded with James Loveridge. Mr. Loveridge's house being a small cabin, the only place which he could afford him for a study was the loft reached by a ladder. It was without a window. Its only means of lighting in the day time was a knot hole in one end.

About the year 1841-2, the old brick church was torn down, and a new one erected. It was built of wood, was eighty feet long, forty-five feet wide, and twenty-one feet from the floor to the

1 ceiling. From May, 1841 to April, 1844, the church was under the charge of the Rev Chauncey Leavenworth. In July, 1844, the Rev. P. R. Van- atta commenced his labors with the church. In the fall of 1849, the Rev. William Hamilton was engaged to supply the church which he did until the following spring, when he accepted a call from the Fifth Presbyterian church, Cincinnati. In June, 1850, the Rev. Louis L. Conrad commenced preach- ing here with a view to settlement, but in Septem- ber following he declined the call and returned to Pennsylvania. The Rev. R. C. Colmerry became pastor of the church in 1851, and continued to the fifth of August, 1856. The Rev. J. N. Shannon occupied the pulpit a short time, but ill health com- pelled him to decline the call to become their reg- ular pastor. After Mr. Shannon, came the Rev. M. A. Sackett. He had occupied the pulpit but a few Sabbaths when the church edifice was destroyed by fire. The members were somewhat depressed at this loss, but not cast down. Before the ashes were scarcely done smouldering they held a meeting in which a large amount was subscribed and the work initiated. A new brick house of worship was put under contract and urged to completion, which is yet standing. It was erected on the site of its two predecessors. The house and its furtiture cost about eight thousand dollars. Soon after the dedi- cation of the new church, which took place on the fifteenth of April, 1860, a regular call was given to Mr. Sackett, which he declined. The Rev. D. B. Hervey was ordained and installed pastor Janu- ary 16. 1862. Since Mr. Hervey retired Revs. O. H. Newton and A. K. Bates have officiated. At V present (March 1881) the church is without a pastor.

A good Sunday-school has been connected with the church since its organization.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodism was first introduced into Ohio be- tween 1788 and 1792, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and in Jefferson county, opposite Wellsburgh, West Virginia. Francis McCormick crossed the Ohio river from Kentucky, and located at Mellville, Clermont county, Ohio, between 1792 and 1796, and probably organized the first Methodist society in the Northwest Territory. William McKendree, afterwards bishop, was sent to the west in 1801 to

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

take supervision of the societies in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Western Virginia, and part of Illinois. He was ragarded as the father of western Metho- dism.

Methodism was introduced into Mt. Vernon in 1812 by Enoch Ellis, who preached at times in the court house and in the log cabins. The first Meth- odist Episcopal church (a frame one) was built in 1831, on the hill where the high school building now stands. It is to be regretted that the larger part of the history of the Methodist Episcopal church in Mt. Vernon (between 1812 and 1831) is involved in obscurity, and that those immediately interested in it have failed to keep a record, espe- cially one that would throw light on its early his- tory. The history of no other church in the city would, perhaps, be so full of interest as this; yet, while the history of others is comparatively com- plete, no official record has been kept, or, if kept, has either been lost or neglected; and all the his- tory that can be collected at this late day must be obtained from old citizens, whose memory, on this point, is somewhat indistinct and vague. This sta- tion is under the care of the North Ohio confer- ence. About 1850, the old Mulberry church edifice becoming too small to accommodate the large con- gregation who worshipped therein, the members agreed to form two charges, to be known as the east and west charges. Some time previous, the late Anthony Banning had left the Methodist Episcopal church and cast his lot with the Protestant Metho- dist church, and had, with pecuniary aid, obtained from the members of the last named church, erected what in after times became known as the "Banning chapel." Desiring to return to his first love, Mr. Banning deeded his chapel to the Methodist Epis- copal church. The chapel thereafter became the western charge and was for some years under the pastoral care of different itinerants, the first of whom was Rev. James Wilson. In 1852 the old chapel was torn down, and on its site the present building was erected, now known as the Lutheran church. The members who attached themselves to the eastern charge purchased the lot on the south- east corner of Gay and Chestnut streets, and in 1852 built the present church edifice. This charge was under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Kennedy, and under his superintendency the build-

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 76

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096