USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 38
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Jonathan Porter, Lewis Ramey, and Jacob Kahler were carpenters. Porter was the first tax collector. Jacob Kah- ler did some work as a millwright. Philip Kahler was chiefly engaged in cultivating the soil. Jonathan Will- iams, from Baltimore, was also a car- penter and joiner, and the first in the village. He came from Baltimore and first worked on the Adams House. He was the leader of the "Junto " faction of local politics. He was a man of great energy and courage, and withal somewhat eccentric. He was usually present in every crowd where there was likely to be any excitement, and on such occasions always bore with him a heavy lignum vitæ stick, by him called the "Old Presbyterian." Ile
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was the second county auditor. He removed to New Orleans and died there.
Price, the blacksmith, was a very estimable man, though somewhat quick tempered. As an example of the last- named characteristic, it is related of him that on one occasion he became engaged in a political discussion with a man by the name of Clymer, who had just purchased a small quantity of but- ter, which he was carrying home on a plate. The controversy became hot, the lie was passed, and Price dashed the plate, butter and all, in the man's face. For this offense he was arrested and tried. At the trial it was stated that it was a clear case of assault and battery. "No, no." said Price in his shrill, piping voice, " just a case of salt and butter." The justice evidently held the same opinion, as he rendered his decision in Price's favor.
Honest, unobtrusive John Hughes was among the first to locate, and erected a two-story log house on lot number 1, at Gravel Point, adjoining which was his smithy. He had the esteem and respect of all who knew hin.
Soon after Adams opened his store an Englishman named Robert Winter came from St. Clairsville. Early in 1820 he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, having erected on lot 32, on the square, a brick house for a store and dwelling. Winter was only a brief resident. About 1826 George Johnson built the brick house since owned and occupied by John R. Bozman, on Center Street, between West and Poplar, and John Collison the brick house on lot 15, southwest corner of Liberty and West Streets. These, with the Adams House and the old courthouse, were the only brick buildings up to 1826, at which
time the number of buildings in the town, public and private, numbered about thirty-five.
Jacob Adams conducted the mercan- tile business alone and in partnership with his brother-in-law, Worley C. Shugert, from 1819 until 1835 or 1836. They were among the leading mer- chants of the valley at that day.
Another early store was that of Ed. win Corner, who was granted a mercan- tile license for one year for $20 at the March term of court, 1820. His estab- lishment stood on the northwest corner of Center and East Streets. Mr. Corner kept hotel in the same building, the store being in the east end. In 1822 the firm consisted of Edwin Corner and John B. Stone. They dissolved part- nership about 1830. John B. Stone & Co. afterward continued business on the opposite side of the street, where Mr. Stone (later) erected the brick building which now forms the east end of the Stanbery Block. Stone & Co. were succeeded by C. B. Bozman, and he by T. D. Clancy & Co.
In 1825 Luther D. Barker opened a store in a frame building east of the old courthouse, moving thence to the build- ing now occupied by his son, C. L. Barker, one of the most prominent merchants of the town.
Other early merchants were Alexan- der Simpson and Robert McConnel. Simpson began business in the building erected by Winter. He continued in business nearly up to the time of his death. Robert McConnel kept store a few years only. He was succeeded by Joseph Chambers, and he by Goodsill Buckingham, a very enterprising mer- chant, who closed out the business.
Soon after William Dawes offered a variety of commodities for sale in the
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building erected by Winter. After a number of years he sold out to Nathan- iel Shepard. Thomas Devin also had a stock of goods in a building which he erected on a lot bought of the county commissioners in the rear of the old courthouse. In after years his brother, Michael Devin, kept store farther up Main Street on the west side.
The condition of society was one of simplicity, when a hunting shirt with a fringed cape was as comfortable as a swallow-tail or ulster, and a neatly made calico gown adorned the wearer as becomingly as the glossy fabric of to-day. A retrospect points to the fact that the pioneer merchants have all passed away, and that Jacob Adams, who was the first, was also the last to pass over futurity's dark road. The usual variety of mechanics, so necessary to the building up of a town in the woods, were here prepared to ply their several vocations. The blacksmith, carpenter and shoemaker were present in the plural number, and other trades had their representatives.
For several years the streets were obstructed by logs, stumps and piles of brush, and over parts of the town the trees stood. The brush was burned for bonfires at night, the trees and logs for fuel, free to all. As to the stumps, the legend is that instead of arresting the drunken man in the street and taking him before his honor, the mayor, to be sent to the workhouse to be boarded, it was customary to furnish the of- fender with a mattock, and direct him to dig up a stump, larger or smaller, in proportion to the drunk. And thus as the demand for a staple commodity in- creased, the surplus of unprofitable incumbrances decreased, with percepti- ble beneficial effects in both cases.
"In the early years of the village," states Judge Gaylord, "the people lived as all people do who settle down in the wilderness. They were far away from the enjoyments, advantages and oppor- tunities of the older settlements and of the present day. The river was their only thoroughfare; the keelboat, the pirogue and the canoe were the only means of transportation. Roads we had none, except bridle paths across the country from one neighborhood to another. At this time, however, there was an important and much-traveled road leading from Marietta to Zanes- ville and across the county through Centre and Bristol Townships, which so continued until the introduction of steamboats upon the river. Zanesville was the only available point at that time where our grists were ground, except here and there horse-mills scat- tered through the country, where the neighbors procured their cornmeal.
"'Hog and hominy,' venison, bear, turkey, corn bread, spice and sassafras tea were the common table spread; but among the well-to-do families . store coffee,' 'Young Hyson' and wheat bread appeared on wash-days or when there was company. In those days the people were truly kind and hospitable, and at all times ready and willing to assist each other in their labors to fell the forest, build the cabin and advance the work of improvement. The political party spirit of the present day had no place or countenance among our people. Not until the great contest for the presidency in 1824, between Jackson. Clay, Adams and Crawford, was it that our people were politically somewhat exercised by the example set them by the outside barbarians. Newspapers were then but few and not much read.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
A few copies of the Zanesville papers (Messenger, and Express or Gazette) and some other stray sheets were procured and handed about among the villagers, and perused with great interest and delight. On political, foreign, general and domestic views our people were kept pretty well posted, as far as it could be done by a mail once a week from Zanesville."
The first blacksmith, as already stated, was Jacob R. Price, at a little log house on Sonth Main Street. James Woodington succeeded in the same shop and the same business. Mr. Price moved to the southwest corner of Union Street. Subsequently near the same locality was George Powell, who erected the brick building now the Partesins steam flouring mill. After- ward, without reference to the or place, were Amos Conaway, whilom mayor of the village and colonel of a rifle regiment ; Levi Muncy, Evans, Ballou and others. At present John H. Wheeler and John H. Bell work at the anvil and have a wagon shop in connection. John Bain is also a wagon and carriage maker and black- smith. N. C. Lukens for a number of years had a wagon maker and black- smith's shop on Front Street, above the bridge, until failing health compelled him to abandon the business.
David Holbrook, recently deceased, was the first to commence the manu- facture of carriages and wagons. He established his shop in 1829 on lot 22, corner of Penn and Center Streets, afterward moving to Parade street.
A similarity of a part of the voca- tion of a blacksmith presents to notice the boot and shoemaker, though the resemblance has now almost entirely disappeared. In years gone by, in bis
shanty at the cross-roads, or in the vil- lage, the blacksmith's regular work at night was the forging of horse-shoes, the glowing metal furnishing the light necessary to give them shape. Now his shoes are machine-made. So with the boot and shoemaker: the machine, armed with the needle and waxed cord, with lengthened stitches, takes the place of the awl. The pegs which he used to shape from the maple block with the knife on his lapboard are now made by machinery and furnished by the barrel. The first shoemaker in town was Robert Robinson. Near by, on lot 69, south part of West Street, in 1819, Timothy Gaylord furnished shoes to order, either pegged or stitched. He was an integral part of one of the local political parties, and in politics, as well as in other matters, was positive in the expression of opinion, and although not hasty in the formation, adhered tenaciously to it regardless of the reasoning advanced for an adverse proposition.
John Lansley in 1828 or '29 opened a shop in the log house, lot 37, south side of Center, west of West Street. Later Joel Robb, afterward treasurer of the county, was a manufacturer of boots and shoes.
The craft outside of the shoe stores is now represented by Dan Marion, J. H. Riley, A. P. Sheridan and J. W. Mead.
The pioneer carpenters were Jonathan Porter, who was the first treasurer of the county, and William Fouts. The name of Fouts has since been a con- tinuity in the trade, and one of the name obtained some celebrity in build- ing the bridge across the river to Malta, after the failure of the incompleted iron structure.
Luther D Banker
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The first of the chronometrical branch of mechanics was Alexander R. Pinkerton, who in 1820 plied his trade in the front room of his residence, southwest corner of East and Center streets, and occasionally assisted in regulating the local politics of the township and village. He was suc- ceeded by his son, David C., who con- tinued the business of silversmith and jeweler until he was elected probate judge. He was subsequently appointed clerk in one of the departments at Washington.
In 1831 or 1832 Charles E. Baldwin, from Baltimore, Maryland, built a neat little frame shop where is now the north end of the Morris Music Hall, and opened a fair stock of jewelers' goods, watches, clocks, etc. He was a "fine old gentleman" of the aristo- cratic stamp, with a tenacious confi- dence in his skill as a " watchmaker, sil- versmith and jeweler." His standard clock was always accurate-the mere intimation to the contrary being suffi- cient to excite his ire to a greater extent than a reference to the battle of Blad- ensburg, in which he was said to have served, distinguishing himself in the re- treat.
Somewhere about this time-the date, as well as the subject, as Toots says, " is of no consequence"-a Mr. Mckay opened a shop as a clock and watchmaker where the bank now stands, and, by fawning, flattery and brag, gained such popular confidence that he was enabled to make a fair display of watches in his window. His shop was robbed of all the watches and a small stock of tinseled jewelry. No arrests were made-but Mr. Mckay was soon a non-resident.
After the demise of Mr. C. E. Bald-
win, Charles Clymer repaired and reg- ulated time-keepers. In addition to his qualifications as a mechanic, he had the reputation of being somewhat quiz- zical, and would frequently sell rare seeds, and occasionally an osage orange, as tropical fruit.
The hatters of the village might be included in the list of "things that were." At an early date John Scott. in the old Larrison House, made hats ; he was the first in town. In 1828 William Green opened a shop. About the same time Edwards & Gilbert started business. They sold to Joseph Laughlin, from St. Clairsville, who con- tinued until his decease. In 1848 Webb & Eckly took the shop. In the fall of 1848 Henson Spence announced to the citizens of the town and vicinity that he had commenced the hatting business, and could "furnish fastidious gentle- men with hats that can't be surpassed for neatness and durability east of the Rocky Mountains." He continued to occupy the same room for the same purpose until his death.
Robert A. Pinkerton was the cabi- net-maker of 1821, in the rear of his father's residence, and for a number of years made and supplied the requisites in that line for the parlor and bed- room. But in the more recent years he has also furnished the dwelling place for those who "softly lie and sweetly sleep low in the ground."
Samuel T. Clymer opened a cabinet maker's shop in 1828, occupying a part of the house on the corner of Center and Penn streets, but only remained a few years.
The first tinner was John R. Robert- son, who opened a shop in a small log house then the property of T. M. Gay- lord corner of West and Poplar streets.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
After he discontinued business his father, Robert Robertson, in 1835 took the tools, which years before had been made under his supervision in St. Clairsville, and commenced business in the room originally built for the office of the Morgan Sentinel, east of West street, where he continued until his death in 1842.
Lewis Harter. asa tinner, commenced business in April, 1859.
In 1836 George P. Morris, who had previously, to a limited extent, worked at the business on his farm above Rokeby, came to town and built a brick dwelling on Center street, east of Penn, and commenced the manufacture of tinware. In 1849 he built the first part of the block on the square, and with additions in 1851, '53 and '73 it covers nearly the entire front of two lots on Center Street.
Adjoining the Adams House is a two- story brick, built by Samuel Thompson, who for a few years had in it a produce store. He sold the building to H. M. Cochran, who put in it a full stock of hardware, and continued the business until the stock was bought by C. H. Morris & Co.
West of the terminus of Jefferson street is the steam sawmill and sash and door factory, which by a joint stock . company was put in operation in 1868. After one or two changes in the man- agement for the better, it came under the control of a company, which, with a capital of $10,000, is doing a profita- ble business, employing ten or twelve hands.
Among the " things that were " above the steam saw mill was the Carbon Oil Refinery, which under the proprietor- ship of Captain Stewart commenced operations in 1861, about the time of
the development of the crude material in the county. In about a year it became the property of a joint stock company. Another company was formed later who continued the business for six years, when the establishment was sold to the Standard Oil Company.
At the southern terminus of Main Street, on the bank of the river, was the foundry, built about 1839, and operated for several years by James L. Gage. It was afterward sold to and operated by David Dickerson until 1868, when it was sold to H. M. Cochran and C. B. Bozman, who continued it in operation until 1879, when it was dis- continued, and the steam-engine, pat- terns, lathes and other fixtures pertain- ing to the machine shop were sold. The lots and building passed into the possession of Captain William Davis.
In the early years tobacco was recog- nized as one of the staples of the county, and as the crop always com- manded a fair price on the market there was an incentive to the proprietor of a farm in the woods and a new log cabin to clear an additional patch for tobacco.
Prior to 1838 the masticators of the weed were indebted for the article in plug form to other than home mann- factories, and it is only within very recent years that Ohio tobacco has been manufactured into plug at all in this town.
In 1838 the pioneer tobacconist, Low- rey Cochran, came from Zanesville and located on half of lot 18, corner of Center and Poplar streets, where he manufactured cigars and other varieties. Here his unaided energy, honesty of purpose and close attention to business commanded the confidence of the com- munity, and his efforts were rewarded by a prosperous increase of business,
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continuing until his death (from cholera) at Marietta in 1850.
The business was continued by his brother, H. M. Cochran, until 1854, when he purchased the entire interest and located the factory at the junction of Centre, Vine and Front Streets. The building was remodeled, and with the modern improvements in presses and other machinery was enabled to do a more extensive business, and the prod- uct in 1862 reached the aggregate of 150,000 pounds per annum. At that time the general government took an interst in the concern, and during the six years ending in 1868 Mr. Cochran paid $125,000 taxes on the amount manufactured. He then sold an inter- est in the business and it was continued under the firm name of "Cochran To- bacco Company" until 1878. During this time the factory paid about $200,- 000 taxes to the general government. In 1878 Mr. Cochran again took the entire charge of the factory, and in 1883 manufactured on an average 200,- 000 pounds of plug tobacco. Recently he has removed his business to Zanes- ville.
The J. L. Cochran Company tobacco factory, commenced in 1879, in the large brick building east of the court house, with all the modern improve- ments in machinery and practical acquirements, and at the present manu- factures in the aggregate about 175,000 pounds of plug tobacco.
Geo. P. Hann, in the Morris block, has a tobacco store and manufactures about 1,000,000 cigars per year.
The principal market for tobacco has been in Baltimore. The first to bny, pack and ship was George Campbell, m 1846. In 1847 John Hiatt, in addition to a dry goods store, had a warehouse
on the northwest corner of Center and Poplar for that purpose.
A few years since Mr. Morris packed tobacco in a large building attached to the old foundry, and is now engaged in the same business in Malta.
In the early years drug stores were seldom separate institutions, nor were groceries aud saloons, and on looking over the old newspaper files of 1827 and a few subsequent years it is a little interesting, if not amusing, to read the notices calling the attention of the com- munity to the variety of commodities which the merchants offered at a low price "for cash." In the list of articles, in addition to dry goods and gro- ceries, are all the patent nostrumns of the day, from La Motte's cough drops to medicamentum, or Judkin's ointment. The merchant also usurped the province of the saloonist, and offered a " choice article of genuine rum and brandy, and pure whisky by the barrel, or smaller quantity, at 25 cents per gallon."
The first drug store of the town was commenced by Dr. S. A. Barker in July 1828, and was continued by him until his demise, when for a short time it was kept by his son. In 1854 it came into the possession of Dr. J. Alexander, and is still continued by him with a large, well-selected stock.
In 1843 or '44 Kirker and Woodman- see opened a drug store in what was called the Springer House, east of the court house. In 1847 the drugs, etc., were sold to Israel Green and removed to the room adjoining that now occupied by Dr. Alexander. In 1857 Green sold to Dr. C. Robertson and S. Sprague. In 1858 they removed to the northwest corner of the square. In April, 1862, Sprague sold his interest
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
to Dr. Robertson, who continued thie business in the same room until the building was burned, together with a large part of the drugs, May 5, 1879, after which he occupied a building ad- joining on the same lot until his death.
In 1858 Drs. Edwards and Hedges started a store in the same room which had been occupied by Kirker, and in April, 1862, sold out to S. Sprague.
C. V. Arrick commenced selling drugs at the southeast corner of Center and East Streets, and afterward removed to the Buckeye Block. In 1882 he sold to Dr. John Ewing. The latter, in part- nership with Dr. T. J. Bingham, now carries on the same business in a com- modious store in the Stanbery Build- ing.
McConnelsville has never had but two breweries. The first may be reck- oned among the early industries. It was established by Jacob P. Springer, and was a small affair. The product was considered of good quality and Mr. Springer had a good patronage. He continued the business several years. HIe moved to Oregon after many years' residence in the county.
Shortly before the war a German named David Young built a brewery in the northwestern part of the town, brewed lager beer, and for a number of years, especially during the war, did a brisk business. He quit business about 1874 and the brewery has not been in operation since.
The town had no banking establish- ment until 1851. In that year Jacob Goodlive, John R. McLain, J. R. Bell and William B. Young established a private bank and carried on quite a large business under the firm name of Goodlive, McLain, Bell & Co. S. H. Fouts acted as cashier for them. Their
first place of business was in a small brick building on Center Street, which is now a meat shop, west of J. Dona- hne's grocery. They moved about 1857 to the building now occupied by John S. Adair's bookstore.
In 1858 J. R. Bell succeeded this firm, wound up their business, and for a time carried on a small business on his own account. In January, 1859, G. C. Devol, also in the Adair build- ing, succeeded Bell. He carried on a successful business, continning until the First National Bank, of which he was the main organizer, was established.
The First National Bank of McCon- nelsville was organized in 1863, and opened for business on the 30th of June. The principal organizers were G. C. Devol and William P. Sprague. The first directors were William P. Sprague, J. E. Thomas, Joshua Davis, Moses McDaniel, Jolin B. Stone, Fred- erick W. Wood and William Hawkins. William P. Sprague was elected the first president, and G. C. Devol cashier. Mr. Sprague was succeeded as presi- dent by A. Alderman in April, 1867, and he by James K. Jones in January, 1863. Mr. Devol served about a year as cashier, and was followed by Moses McDaniel for about the same period. The present cashier, Richard Stanton, succeeded to the office in January, 1866. The bank was organized with a capital of $100,000, which is the pres- ent capital. June 30, 1882, the bank was reorganized under the same name. It has always done a good and safe business, and is regarded as one of the reliable institutions of Morgan County. The present directors are J. K. Jones, A. Alderman, G. C. Devol, E. W. Cot- ton, R. L. Morris, J. L. Cochran and J. E. Thomas.
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In 1826 the town consisted of a small number of dwellings scattered here and there over the entire plat of the town. But a decade later the village had grown in population to such an extent that a municipal government was thought necessary, and on petition of a number of citizens the legislature passed "an act incorporating the vil- lage of McConnelsville" in 1836.
The boundaries established by this act left out Corner's addition, the ceme- tery, and other prospective additions, and to correct these important omis- sions another act was passed in 1839, establishing the boundaries as at pres- ent, viz: "Commencing at the center of the river, opposite the mouth of the Conklin Run, and with the meander- ings of the run to where it crosses the Barnesville Road (North Main Street), thence due west to the middle of the river, thence following the course of the river to the place of beginning."
The following were the property owners of McConnelsville in 1836, as copied from the tax duplicate of that vear :
Jacob Adams, S. A. Barker, L. D. Barker, John Bailey, Wilks Bozman, Edward Butt, Corner & Stone, Edwin Corner, Jas. Culbertson's heirs, Lovit Cady, John Collison, Amos Conaway, James Cope, Thos. Devin, Wmn. Durbin, David Dutrow, Jeremiah Dale, Michael Devin, Edward Dawes, Bernard Elrick, Alvah E. Ellis, Win. Fouts, Caleb W. Fouts, Lemen Fouts, Jacob Goodlive. Timothy Gaylord's heirs, Jas. L. Gage, Sammel Herrick, Wm. Hammond, John Hammond, Win. Hawkins, John Hunt, David Holbrook, John E. Hanna, John- son & Shepard, George Johnson, Perley B. Johnson, James Kirby, Joseph M. Laughlin, Jas. Larrison, James Lutton,
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