THE MINERAL CITY

[PORTRAIT OF A. POSTON]

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EARLY DAYS.

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expressed.  His death occurred on the 20th of May, 1835.  The original plat comprised fifty-seven lots, numbering from one to fifty-seven.  Two streets were named - Columbus and Mulberry.  In the month of October, 3d day, 1825, Mr. Nelson laid out twenty additional town lots, numbering from fifty-eight to seventy-seven, both inclusive.  At that time the town had not developed to any great extent; but those who lived here had faith in its future, and were getting ready for its growth.  When Captain John Hull came there were but eight houses, Here.  The oldest of these, a cabin, belonging to ____ Johnson, stood south of Steenrod and Poston's mill, between the present bed of the canal and the railroad.

EARLY SETTLERS.

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FIRST BRIDGE OVER THE HOCKHOCKING

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FIRST LIBRARY.

EARLY SETTLERS.

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ORIGINAL PAPERS OF VALUE.

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COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO DR. HILDRETH, OF MARIETTA, OHIO,
JAN. 17, 1834.

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CANAL COMPLETED.

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COAL OPERATORS.

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     L. D. POSTON

     THADDEUS LONGSTRETH - This gentleman began operating in coal at Nelsonville in the summer of 1867.  He came from Warren County, Ohio, and bought an interest in the coal works of W. G. Power & Co., who were working mines leased of Rhodes & Phillips.  In 1869 Mr. Longstreth bought out his partners and about the same time bought the land on which the works were situated.  Since that time he has been operating alone, the business constantly increasing.  In December, 1878, he purchased a large tract of coal land in Hocking County and opened extensive works on it.  He employs, at Nelsonville, about 200 men and ships about

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NOT ALL MINING.

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THE POSTOFFICE.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodist Episcopal. -

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     The Presbyterian Church at

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about $12,000.  It is 40 x 60 feet in dimensions, has a Sabbath school room, and is furnished with steam heating apparatus.

     The Church of Christ. -

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS, 1883.

     T. P. Marshall, President; Dr. I. P. Primrose, Josiah Wilson, W. G. Hickman, W. W. Poston, Geo. W. Devore; J. C. Parker, Treasurer; F. S. Coultrap, Secretary.

LODGES AND SOCIETIES.

     Philodorean Lodge No. 157, A. F. & A. M. -

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Martin Tyler; Alexander Beattie and Thomas Johnson, Stewards.

     Unity Lodge, No. 568, I. O. O. F.,

    The Phil Kearney Post, No. 38,

     Hockhocking Lodge, No. 339, I. O. O. F. -

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BUSINESS INTERESTS.

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PROFESSIONS.

MERCHANTS AND MINERS' BANK.

NEWSPAPERS OF NELSONVILLE.

     Times. - The first paper started in Nelsonville was called the Nelsonville Times.  It was a six column weekly paper, but only lived a short time.  In the following year (1873) the
     Nelsonville Miner was published by George Cook.  He made a lively and progressive paper of it, and always took the laborer's part.  The coal operators got down on him for his independent spirit, and he closed out in December, 1875, to J. A. Straight, after publishing as good a paper as was ever seen in Nelsonville.

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Mr. Straight kept up the wide-awake spirit of the paper.  This was followed by the Mirror, and it was succeeded by the News.
     The Nelsonville News. - The Nelsonville News may be said to be the successor of the Nelsonville Mirror, although the latter was of short life.  The News was established by John A. Tullis in 1879.  On his coming to Nelsonville in 1878 he purchased the press and office supplies from the proprietor of the Mirror, but used the press only for job work.  The first number of the News was issued Jan. 16, 1879.  It was a seven-column paper, 24 x 36 inches, and so continued up to the 26th of the following June, when it was changed to an eight-column paper.  Mr. Tullis has been its sole editor and proprietor from the start.  The career of this paper has been as prosperous as cold be expected under the circumstances.  It has been steadily growing in strength, and is now on a firm basis, being not only self-supporting but producing a reasonable profit to its proprietor.  It is neutral in politics, the editor's motto being:  "An independent journal, devoted to the interest of its patrons."  It is issued every Thursday, the subscription price being $1.50.
     John A. Tullis, editor of the Nelsonville News, was born Nov. 11, 1836, near Donnelsville, Clarke Co., O.  His father was....

     Nelsonville Miner was published by George Cook

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     Charles P. Reid, editor of

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MANUFACTURIES.

     The manufacturing interests of Nelsonville are as follows:
     Nelsonville Foundry and Machine Co's. works, established April, 1880.  They are owned by a joint stock company, the President being John R. Buchtel of Akron, O.  Among the products are steam-pipes and steam-fittings, and mining cars are a specialty.
     Two Flouring Mills, owned by Charles Robbins, and a steam mill, owned by C. Steenrod & Co.
     Two Planing Mills, owned by M. Craig & Sons, and the Nelsonville Planing Mill Company, Asher Poston, President.
     This closes the history of the largest city in the valley of the Hocking, and its future destiny is very bright and promising.  Energy, enterprise and morality will give her a prestige that no city in the valley can rival.   May this be her lot.