USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 2
USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
Cleveland Boiler Plate Manufacturing Company's Works, Cleveland, 2,500
Cleveland Iron Works, Cleveland, . 3.756
40,000
Cleveland Rolling Mill Company's Works, Cleveland, 58,000
Lake Erie Iron Works, Cleveland, 12,000
Nes Silicon Steel Works, Sandusky. · 30,000
Otis Iron and Steel Company's Works, Cleveland,
Union Iron Works, Cleveland. 25,000
Valley Iron Company's Works, Cleveland,
MAHONING VALLEY.
Akron Iron Works, Akron, 6,500
Alliance Rolling Mill, Alliance, 31,000
Cherry Valley Iron Company's Works, Leetonia, 10,000
Enterprise Iron Works, Youngstown, 6,000
Falcon Iron and Nail Works, Niles, 10,500
Girard Rolling Mill, Girard, . 3,600
Hall Iron Works, Hubbard, .
4,000
Leetonia Nail and Bolt Company's Works, Leetonia, 2,600
Mahoning Iron Work, Youngstown,
Massillon Coal and Iron Company's Works, Massillon,
Niles Iron Works, Niles,
12,000
Wm. Richards and Sons' Works, Warren,
Ridgway Iron Works, Youngstown, 36,000
Youngstown Rolling Mill, Youngstown, 5,500
INTERIOR COUNTIES.
Columbus Iron Works, Columbus,
Columbus Rolling Mill, Columbus, 30,000
Dover Rolling Mill, Canal Dover,
Zanesville Iron Works, Zanesville, 7,500
OHIO RIVER COUNTIES.
Ætna Iron and Nail Company's Works, Bridgeport, .
Belfont Iron Works, Ironton, S,750
Bellair Nail Works, Bellaire, 6,500
Bloom Forge Iron Works, Portsmouth, 7,500
.
41
MINERAL STATISTICS.
Annual capacity in tons. 5,000
Burgess Steel and Iron Works, Portsmouth,
Cincinnati Railway Iron Works, Cincinnati,
Globe Rolling Mill, Cincinnati,
6,000
Ironton Rolling Mill, Ironton. 9,000
Jefferson Iron Works. Steubenville, 9,000
Lawrence Iron Works, Ironton, 8,000
Licking Rolling Mill, Newark,
-----
Marietta Rail Mill, Marietta, · 30,000
Newark Rolling Mill, Newark,
Ohio City Iron and Nail Works, Martin's Ferry, 5,000
Pomeroy Iron Works, Pomeroy, 10,500
Vulcan Rolling Mill and Tube Works, Cincinnati,
RAIL MILLS.
The following list comprises all the rail mills in Ohio in 1874:
Atna Iron and Nail Company, Bridgeport. Light T rails and flat rails.
Akron Iron Works, Akron Iron Company, Akron. Light rails.
Alliance Rolling Mill, Alliance Rolling Mill Company, Alliance. Cincinnati Railway Iron Works, Cincinnati Railway Iron Company, Cincinnati. Cleveland Iron Works, Cleveland Iron Company, Cleveland. Cleveland Rolling Mill Company, Cleveland.
Lake Shore and Newburgh Mills.
Columbus Rolling Mill, Columbus Rolling Mill Company, Columbus.
Girard Rolling Mill, Girard Rolling Mill Company, Girard. Light rails. Lawrence Iron Works, Lawrence Iron Works Company, Ironton. Light rails. Marietta Rail Mill, Marietta Coal and Iron Company, Marietta. Nes Silicon Steel Works, Nes Silicon Steel Company, Sandusky. Newark Rolling Mill, Newark Iron Company, Newark.
Pomeroy Iron Works, Pomeroy Iron Company, Pomeroy. Light T Rails and flat rails. Ridgeway Iron Works, Wick, Ridgeway & Co., Youngstown.
Zanesville Iron Works, Ohio Iron Company, Zanesville. Light rails.
6
-
42
HANGING ROCK IRON REGION.
THIS region includes Lawrence, Jackson, Gallia, Vinton, Hocking, and part of Scioto Counties, in Ohio; Greenup, Boyd, Carter, and Lawrence Counties, in Ken- tucky. It is a portion of that ore belt which, continuing in a north-east direction from the Hocking Valley, embraces parts of Perry, Muskingum, Licking, Coshocton, Tus- carawas, Holmes, Stark, and Wayne; thence gradually curving to the east, parts of Mahoning and Columbiana Counties in Ohio. Continued east into Pennsylvania, it forms the iron district north of Pittsburg; from thence, south-east, then south, it finally assumes a south-west course west of the Monongahela River, and extends through West Virginia. This iron and coal belt thus traced forms the margin of "the great Ohio coal basin," as it is found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The region takes its name from a large projecting cliff upon the Ohio River, situated just back of the village of Hanging Rock. This is one of the oldest settlements of the region, and within its hallowed precincts cluster the memories of the early days.of pioneer iron-masters. It was the headquarters for the iron men of the region, and the shipping point for nearly all of the metal produced upon the Ohio side until 1849. Now but one furnace ships at its wharf, and Ironton has become the principal center for business transactions upon the river. In early times, James Rodgers, John Camp- bell, Robert Hamilton, and Andrew Ellison,* for many years nade Hanging Rock their home. The many iron works which they have left to perpetuate their mem- ories link their names with that of "Hanging Rock" in the region's history. These pioneers, with others, built the "Old Hanging Rock Forge," about the year 1833. Speaking of this forge and the rock, Dr. S. P. Hildreth's "Geology of Ohio " has the following : "Four miles above the mouth of the Little Sandy, on the Ohio River, and in the midst of the iron region, is the celebrated cliff of sandstone, called the 'Hanging -
The "Ohio His. Coll.," by Howe, 1845, in reference to Mr. Ellison, says: "Some years since, a wealthy iron-master was buried at Hanging Rock, in compliance 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 in diameter, and fif- teen feet high, painted white, with a cupola-like roof, surmounted by a ball." It was afterward removed by his relatives, and his remains buried near the spot.
43
HANGING ROCK IRON REGION.
Rock.' The upper portion of the cliff, which is nearly four hundred feet high, pro- jects over the mural face of the rock, like the cornice of a house. It is extended. also, for some distance up a small creek, which here puts into the river. The Ohio flows close to its base, while beneath and under its projecting walls is a forge for the refining of iron. The blasts of its immense bellows, added to the thundering noise of its tremendous hammer, weighing more than a ton, echoing and reverberating under the walls of the cliff, afford no inapt emblem of the labors of the Cyclops under the caverns of Mount /Etna. An abundance of iron ore is found in the vicinity, and a few miles back in the hills a furnace called 'the Atna' furnishes the pigs for the anvils of the modern Cyclops. Bar iron, of excellent quality, is manufactured at this interesting spot. Near the top of the cliff is a bed of alumiinons slate, through which the water filtrates from above, and, slowly evaporating below, forms stalac- tites of alum, impregnated with sulphate of iron. In other parts of this deposit, more sheltered from the weather, and more dry, the sulphate of magnesia is formed in transparent, acicular crystals, of one or two inches in length." Great interest attaches to the first attempt at iron production in this region, the history of which is as follows : In the vicinity where "Old Pactolus" furnace now stands, in Greenup County, Ky., lived one Richard Deering,* a farmer, but who, at times, engaged in salt boiling. Noticing the iron ore in his fields and upon the hill-sides, he conceived the idea of smelting iron as he had seen it done near his old home in Pennsylvania. Being a man of considerable ingenuity, and skilled in mechanical work, in IS15 he con- structed a cupola, and "gathered in iron stone" for smelting. His attempt in this new direction proving quite satisfactory, he procured four or five molders, men more experienced than himself, to run his iron into hollow-ware. The success of this crude attempt induced him, in IS18, with David and John Trimble, to erect the " Argillite Furnace." This was the first furnace in the Hanging Rock iron region. It was located in Greenup County, Ky., six miles south-west from Greenups- burg, upon the left bank of Little Sandy River. The stack, twenty-five feet high and six feet " bosh," was cut solid in a cliff of black slate, hence called Argillite, with only two sides for tymp and tuyere arches. A dam, thrown diagonally across the river,
# Richard Deering attempted pumping salt water by steam by placing one kettle. over another, bolting them together-one hole for steam-pipe, and another for water. It burst after running some two or three months. This was the first use of steam in the region. Mr. Deering also built " Enter- prise " forge in 1824, upon Tygert Creek.
=
44
OHIO TO-DAY.
with a massive undershot water-wheel, furnished power for the blast. The iron pro- duced was made into hollow-ware on week-days, and run into pigs on Sundays. The blast-cylinder and water-wheel were made by John Deering,* whom his brother had engaged for this purpose. The experiment of the cupola, in IS15, was a small but most memorable beginning. Sixty years have passed, and now the fires of over one hundred furnaces, mills, and factories, light up the valleys and ravines, which were then covered with forests. When we consider that these results have been attained by a region whose mineral resources are, as yet, apparently untouched, and anticipate, therefore, what the future may accomplish for it, the retrospect of this first crude effort at iron manufacture impresses one the more with the significance of the event.
The second furnace in the region was the Pactolus, built in 1824, by M'Murty and Ward; the Hopewell Furnace, built in 1832, originated in the Ward Forge, which was erected in 1824; the third furnace was "Old Steam," built by the Shreeves Brothers in 1825, and the fourth, Belfonte, was built the same year, by A. Paull and others. Pre- vious to the first smelting of iron in this region, "Brush Creek Furnace," in Adams County-the first erected in the State of Ohio -- was in blast. It was built by Ellison, James, and Col. Paull .; The firm name of Brush Creek Furnace Company, by which it was known, was changed, in 1826, to Messrs. James T. Claypoole & Co. This was the first furnace erected in the United States which was run by steam. Their engine was built by the "Pitts Steam Engine Co.," who sent Mr. James Rodgers to attach it to the furnace. In passing to and fro upon the river, Mr. Rodgers learned from the several furnaces in blast in this region of their success, and this induced hin to prospect for a . furnace site here also. Being a man of capital and energy, he readily found a locality, six miles from Greenupsburg, abounding in ores and timber, where, in 1826, he, with others, built Union Furnace, under the firin name of James Rodgers & Co. In 1827, Rev. Daniel Young, from the New England States, having settled in this region, with others built the Franklin Furnace. In 1828 Scioto. Furnace was built by Wm. Salters,
# Rev. John Deering then lived upon the Big Sandy River, and invented what was known to old boatmen as the " double L " pump.
f The third settlement in the State of Ohio was made at Manchester, Adams County. The Ellisons, with others, came from near Belfast, Ireland, direct to this point, and joined Col. Massie in founding the town in 1790. They became interested in this pioneer furnace, which was built by Ellison, James, and Col. Paull in IS10, and in Stean! Furnace, of that county, erected by James Rodgers, Andrew Ellison, and the Pittsburg Steam Engine Company in 1816. In after years, many who mi- grated to the Ohio Valley became interested either in these furnaces or the forges common to the country.
45
HANGING ROCK IRON REGION.
and in 1829 Lindsey Poague and others erected Amanda Furnace. The year previous Robert Hamilton and Andrew Ellison had erected Pine Grove Furnace, back of Hang- ing Rock, and afterward built the Hanging Rock Railroad, extending three miles to their coal mines.
" In 1837 a new era dawned upon the iron business-the introduction of the use of a heated blast. Some three or four furnace men met at Vesuvius Furnace, and there agreed that they would test the hot blast principle, to employ a man to put up a hot blast at Vesuvius, and, if it proved to be a satisfactory experiment, Hurd, Gould & Co. were to pay all expenses; but if a failure, the expense was to be divided among the agreeing parties. Win. Firmstone put up the hot blast. It proved satisfactory to all parties, notwithstanding it was contended by those opposed to the principle that the iron would be weakened by the hot blast, and made unfit for casting purposes. The result proved that it was the very kind of iron that foundries wanted."
In 1841 Mr. John Campbell, at Mount Vernon Furnace, made an advantageous change by placing the boilers at the tunnel head of furnace stack and applying the waste gas to the production of steam-a plan now generally adopted by the charcoal furnaces of the region and other portions of the United States.
" In 1840 Mr. Robert Hamilton became the sole owner of Pine Grove Furnace. Having the furnace entirely under his control, he made an experiment which he had long determined to try; namely, the stopping of the furnace upon the Sabbath. That it would not succeed was predicted to him by many of those he considered his friends; yet he was resolved to try it, cost what it might. He took down the old stack, erecting a new one, which shows for itself the work of a master workman. These improvements consumed the greater part of the year 1844, and from the 20th of December in that year dates the stoppage, for the first time, of a furnace upon the Sabbath." This cus- tom, at this day, is very generally adopted throughout the region.
NOTE .- FIRST FURNACES OF THE COUNTIES IN THE REGION.
Name of County.
Name of Furnace. :
Builders.
Name of County.
Name of Furnace.
Builders.
Greenup, Ky.
Argillite ... Deering and Trimble.
Boyd, Ky ......
Amanda ... L. Poague and others.
Jackson, O .. Jackson Scioto, O ..... Franklin ...
Hurd, Young and others. Danl. Young and others.
Carter, Ky ..
Mt. Savage R. M. Biggs and others.
¡Vinton, O ... Eagle. Hocking, O. Logan
!A. Bently and others. Not informed.
Lawrence, O.
Union .....
Gallia, O.
Gallia
Jas. Rodgers and others. John Campbell and others.H
46
OHIO TO-DAY.
The number of furnaces in the region had increased rapidly up to this dare, new towns were founded which had a permanent growth, and older ones were stimulated to increased activity. Among the latter is Portsmouth, Ohio, which is the first that is met in passing up the river. Although not properly with i the ore belt, yet it is the head- quarters and shipping point for the Union Iron Company's and other furnaces upon the Portsmouth Railroad. The wholesale houses there do' a heavy business with these iron works. The Gaylord Rolling Mill Company, and the Burgess Iron and Steel Works Company, have their establishments located at this place. It is the county-seat for Scioto, and has some 15,000 of a population. It is one of the oldest towns of the region, and is more metropolitan in its character than the others. In the early settle- ment of the country Alexandria was founded at the mouth of the Scioto River, just opposite Portsmouth, but did not prosper. The first iron works at Portsmouth was an old-fashioned forge, erected by Mr. Henry Steece.
The next place is Greenupsburg, Ky.,* which is located in the midst of the fur- naces, and has served as a shipping point for many of them. It is the county-seat for Greenup, and has 1, 000 of a population. The older furnaces of that county, together with those of later years, give to Greenupsburg a slow but steady growth. Farther up the river is Riverton, Ky., which is the terminus of the railroad belonging to the Eastern Kentucky Railway Company. This road is thirty-two miles in length, and does the shipping for a large number of furnaces. It was extended, within a short time, to Willard, a place at which ores and coal are mined by the Etna Iron Works and Belfont Iron Works, of Ironton, Ohio. The company also operate two furnaces; namely, Penn- sylvania and Hunnewell, late Greenup.
Six miles above Greeupsburg is Hanging Rock, Ohio. A short railroad, three miles in length, terminates here, which serves for shipping the iron from Pine Grove Furnace and the coal mined at a small settlement among the hills, called Newcastle. The Excelsior Foundry, owned by Mr. Samuel B. Hempstead's estate, and the one owned by Martin, Henderson & Co., are located here. The latter was built by Messrs. Peebles, Wood & Co., and employs a capital of $18,000, and produces such wares as stoves, fronts and grates, and marbelized iron mantels. They employ about thirty workmen,
# The Hanging Rock region was once the hunting ground of Daniel Boone, who built a cabin one mile above Greenupsburg. He afterward removed to Missouri, but his son Jesse remained for several years. Jesse Boone built the first brick chimney in the region, the remnants of which were still standing in 1851.
47
HANGING ROCK IRON REGION.
and have a good custom, both from Ohio and other States. However, the village improves but slowly, and is interesting only as one of the early settlements of the region.
Three miles above this village is the city of Ironton, Ohio, a place of many fur. naces, rolling mills, foundries, and iron factories. The town was laid out in 1849, and has increased at a rapid rate, varying only with the fluctuations of iron. Iron is the basis of its wealth, as well as it is of its name. The Ohio Iron and Coal Company, which founded the town, was organized by Mr. John Campbell, who has continued as its President. The charter for this company was secured through the efforts of Dr. Caleb Briggs,* who was sent to Columbus for that purpose. On the 20th of June, the same year, the first sale of lots was made, and Ironton started upon its career of prosperity. The Iron Railroad, leading north from Ironton, was built within the three following. years, and is now twenty miles in length. It transports the products and supplies of Olive, Center, Howard, Mount Vernon, Buckhorn, JEtna, Lawrence, Vesuvius, Beifont, Grant, Alice, Blanche. and the Iron and Steel Company's furnaces, besides carrying the Tunnel coal to the various iron works at Ironton. The hills through which it passes are filled with the minerals necessary for iron manufacture, and support a large population. The county-seat was removed from Burlington to Ironton in 1851. Hanging Rock was desirous of becoming the county-seat at that time, and Mr. Robert Hamilton, of that place, offered $10,000 to the county as an inducement to locate it there; but Ironton received the larger number of votes. The population, which in 1870 was 5,700, is now 9,000. The place enjoys the benefit of water-works, gas, and such other improvements as generally pertain to a small city.
The large number of iron works located directly at this point give to it great wealth, and requires a large amount of capital to carry them on. The First and Second National, and Wm. D. Kelly's Exchange Banks, afford ample monetary faciti- ties to the iron men in their business transactions. The principal iron works are mentioned below. The Belfont Iron Works Company have a blast furnace, rolling, and nail mill combined. The firm was known as Peters, James & Co., until 1863, when Messrs. E. M. and G. W. Norton organized the present, company. At their furnace,
# Dr. Caleb Briggs was one of the State geologists of Ohio in the survey made in 1838, and also served in the same capacity for Virginia and New York. It was in conversation with Dr. Briggs that Mr. John. Campbell gave the town the name of Ironton. He had expressed a desire to give the town a name which should incorporate the word iron and show the place to be essentially an iron town. Dr. Briggs then suggested to call it Iron-Town, but Mr. Campbell objected to the length of the word, and, upon further thought, called it Ironton.
48
OHIO TO-DAY.
the Missouri and native (red hematite variety) ores are smelted into mill iron, using the bituminous coal of the region for fuel, principally from the Ashland and Sherridan vein. Just above the Belfont, upon the bank of the river, is the Grant furnace, owned by Messrs. Wm. D. Kelly & Sons. It is of the old style, charcoal, using altogether native ores. Situated in the western part of the city are the Lawrence Iron Works, complete in its appointments. The present firm was incorporated in 1867. Their principal salesrooms are in Cincinnati, though they ship largely on orders directly to their works. "The Olive Foundry and Machine Shop of Messrs. Lam- bert & Gordon was erected in 1852, and employs a capital of $80,000, producing finished work of the yearly value of $150,000. Near to these works is located the extensive foundry of Mears, Olhaber & Co. This establishment was erected by Campbell, Ellison & Co. in 1850. and was afterward owned by Woodrow, Mears & Co. Stoves, with brands of these firms, are to be found in all parts of the Mississippi Valley." The Iron and Steel Co.'s works were built in 1852, and the principal stock has always been owned by iron men at this point. The firm was first known as Ironton Rolling Mill Co., then as H. Campbell & Co., and again as Ironton Rolling Mill Co. Their works occupy one square, with fine wharfage upon the river. They own one of the largest and most substantial stone-coal furnaces in the region. It is erected adjacent to their works, and the waste gases of the ore are utilized by the other. One of the most distinguishing features of their works is the manufacture of steel by the introduction of chemicals when the iron is in a melted state. About one mile above the Iron and Steel Co.'s works are situated the Etna Iron Works, the largest and finest in the United States. The "Ferrie Process," by which the coal is coked and the ores calcined at the top of furnace-stack, has been adopted, together with the most modern improvements in iron smelting. The smoke-stack, which, by its draught, returns the waste gas from tops of the furnace-stacks to the ovens and boilers, is one hundred and ninety feet in height. This plant consists of two furnace- stacks, each ninety feet in height, with eight "Whitewell Ovens," for heating the blast ; five engines, and two immense stock houses, with railways passing through them for depositing the coal, ores, etc. The gases are conducted under ground, through large flues, ranging from five to ten feet in diameter. Four elevators, worked by steam, are used in connection with the furnaces, and inclined railways serve to load and unload stock and iron at the river's edge. The company's properties give employ- ment to some fifteen hundred men, and the mills which they propose building, will
1
1
HANGING ROCK IRON REGION.
give work to many more. Mr. Geo. Willard is president of this company, and Mr. % in
J. P. Witherow is the builder of the works.
Four miles above Ironton is the town of Ashland, Ky., which is also an iron center. The founders of this place obtained a charter in 1854, under the name of The Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Co., with a capital of $400,000. Though a Kentucky town. the heaviest subscribers to the stock of the company were Ohio men. A portion of the capital was invested in the Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad, the route of which was changed so as to strike the Ohio River at Ashland. This road is now seventeen miles in length, and transports the products and supplies for the Mt. Savage, Buena Vista, Ashland, and Norton furnaces; it also transports the coal which is mined at the village of Coalton. Ashland furnace was built by the Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad Company in 1869. It uses the native and Missouri ores, with the native bituminous coal. The coal upon this side of the river has been more developed, and is valuable for its use in iron smelting. Both the Ashland furnace and the Norton Iron Works furnace smelt their ores with it. The latter company was organized by Colonel E. M. Norton, of Ironton, Ohio, for whom the works were named, and to whose energy and judgment belongs the credit of their successful completion in 1873. In connection with the furnace is a rolling and nail mill, which have been in opera- tion since their erection.
Just opposite to Ashland is Petersburg, Ohio, where is located the Monitor char- coal furnace, owned by Mr. John Peters and others. A short distance up the river, and on the Ohio side, are the Sherridan Coal Works. The vein worked is the same as that opened at Coalton, Ky. This company intend, within a short time, to erect a large bituminous furnace directly at their mines.
Jackson C. H., Ohio, is another iron center for the interior furnaces. The old salt works at this place were known as far back as 1755. In 1797 the whites first made salt there, and the State, in 1804, set apart six miles square for the public benefit, which included the town of Jackson. The remains of a mastodon were found in this locality, and the indications are that it had been the resort for wild animals in. centuries past, as it certainly was a famous hunting ground for the Indians. There are three workable veins of coal, two of which are particularly valuable to this place. These are known as the "Jackson Hill" and the "Jackson Shaft" coal. The coal ranks as high, if not higher, than any other in the State, and is employed in the blast furnaces here. The charcoal blast furnaces of the county have these coals
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.