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CHAPTER V.
IRONTON AND THE VILLAGES.
Pg. 300
DEVELOPMENT OF RAILROAD COMMUNICATION -
GENERAL FAVORABLE CONDITIONS - TRACTS PURCHASED FOR TOWN SITE-
HOW THE NAME CAME TO BE - COMPANY TELLS WHY LOTS SHOULD SELL -
STATUS OF THE IRON RAILROAD - FOUNDING OF THE IRON BANK - "YOUNG
AMERICA" AGAINST FOREIGN LABOR - AN EPOCHAL YEAR, 1881 -
RAILROADS - ADDITIONS TO ORIGINAL SITE - CITY AS A WHOLE IN 1881
- EXTENT OF IRON INDUSTRIES - THE CLAY INDUSTRIES - THE GOLDCAMP
MILL COMPANY - THE W. G. WARD LUMBER COMPANY - CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE - FIRST NATIONAL BANK - SECOND NATIONAL BANK - CITIZENS
NATIONAL BANK - IRON CITY SAVINGS BANK - FIRST VILLAGE CODE -
DIVIDED - INTO SEVEN DISTRICTS - FIRE PREVENTION RATHER THAN
CURE - POSTOFFICE MOVED TO UNION HALL - EARLY FIRE COMPANIES -
BUILDING OF THE WATERWORKS - PRESENT WORKS - THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR PIONEER SCHOOLS - BOARD OF EDUCATION IN 1854
- SCHOOL RULES - KINGSBURY BECOMES SUPERINTENDENT - FIRST BRICK
SCHOOLHOUSE - ENROLLMENT IN 1856 AND 1860 - SUCCESSORS OF
PROFESSOR KINGSBURY - PRESENT ENROLLMENT AND SCHOOLHOUSES -
PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL REFORMS - BRIGGS LIBRARY AND MEMORIAL HALL
- DETAILS OF THE FOUNDATION - THE PRESS - THE IRONTON REGISTER -
THE IRONTONIAN - IRONTON NEWS - TRANSPORTATION AND ELECTRICITY -
NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION - HISTORIC FLOODS - VILLAGE OF COAL
GROVE - OLD HANGING ROCK - THE OLD COUNTY SEAT - PROCTORVILLE,
CHESAPEAKE AND ATHALIA.
Ironton was
incorporated as a city in 1865, at a time when the "war boom"
was still active. This was followed by a shrinkage of
values and a reaadjustment, which gradually merged into a
stagnation of the iron industries, as well as all branches of
manufactures and trade, with the final culmination of the
depression and panics which marked the decade from 1870 to 1880.
In the first decade of its live the population of the town
reached more than 3,500; was 5,800 in 1870, and 8,800 in 1880.
DEVELOPMENT OF RAILROAD COMMUNICATION -
Up to
that year the town and city had depended on the Iron Railroad
and the Ohio River for the transportation of its products of its
people.
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As stated by the Register in one of its valuable industrial
editions: "For thirty years after Ironton was founded, she had
no railroads leading to the outside world. Her little Iron
Railroad, running thirteen miles into the country, was not to be
despised, for it was the source of an immense local business;
but it went nowhere. There were no other railroads and all
transportation was done by the Ohio river, a stream not
altogether reliable, but yet a very valuable avenue. Every
sack of coffee, every box of drygoods, every barrel of rice,
were brought to Ironton on steamboats for three decades, and yet
under this imperfect communication Ironton grew to be a city of
great industries and good population.
"It was not until 1881 that a railroad reached Ironton,
and then the Scioto Valley came. Next was built a
narrow-gauge extension of the Iron Railroad to Wellston to
connect with the railroads there; and in 1888 came the
Chesapeake and Ohio across the river, and in 1892 the Norfolk
and Western, which had purchased the Scioto Valley, was extended
into Virginia, with a bridge at South Point, ten miles above."
At that time the population of the city had reached about
11,000; it was 11,868 in 1900, and 13,147 in 1910.
The old Iron Railroad has become the Detroit, Toledo
and Ironton Line, which places the Hanging Rock Iron Region in
direct connection with that of the Great Lakes. The
Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton uses the tracts of the Detroit,
Toledo and Ironton, but as it is a part of the Baltimore and
Ohio Southwestern System, it will, ere long, cross the Ohio from
the Kentucky side on its own bridge and tracks. Ferry
connection is already enjoyed with the Kentucky side through the
Chesapeake and Ohio, and the Norfolk and Western comes in from
Portsmouth and the Northwest. The city has also interurban
connection with Hanging Rock and Coal Grove and will soon be
placed in communication with Portsmouth through that medium.
So that the city is now thoroughly supplied with every modern
means of communication with the outer world, including two
complete telephone systems - Home and Bell - which net the
county.
GENERAL FAVORABLE CONDITIONS -
and opposite the mouth of the Big Sandy River
which separates West Virginia from Kentucky. The hills
shut out heavy and destructive winds, also detrimental to the
health. The city's general location is high, dry and
healthful; and it has good water, plenty of light, and is,
moreover, a city noted for the number and stability of its
churches. Its industries are varied and substantial; its
banks well managed and in keeping with its substantial
prosperity, and, to a large extent it maintains its old
reputation as the gateway of the Hanging Rock Iron Region.
With the extension of the railroad systems toward it from both
the northeast and
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southwest it promises to become a leading shipping point for the
rich coal and timber lands of West Virginia and Kentucky.
TRACTS PURCHASED FOR TOWN SITE-
On May 12, 1849, less
than three weeks after the organization of the Ohio Iron and
Coal Company, John Campbell, as president of that
corporation, made a report as to the purchase of lands for the
new town. We copy from the original document: "John
Campbell, as agent for part of the stockholders of the Ohio
Iron and Coal Company, authorized William D. Kelly to buy
the following lands on the following terms for the use of said
company, the title of which lands are in said Kelly:
"The farm of Isaac Davidson, 49½
acres, on which he paid 13th December, 1848, $819; and executed
his note, payable in nine months from the 13th December, with
interest, $800.
"Elizabeth Copenhaver's farm, 23 acres - cash,
Nov. 25, 1848, $550; gave his note payable on demand, and
interest, $550.
"Daniel Fort's farm, 100 acres - cash, February
4th, $400; note at one year, $400.
"P. Linenbarger, 2½ acres - cash, $248.
"E. E. Adams' lot, one acre - cash, $100; same,
in April, $200; his note at three years, with interest, $100.
"George Kneff, 236 acres - cash when called for,
$2,500.
"J. L. Collins' farm, 66 acres - due 1st of
June, $1,500; note due, February, 1849, with interest, $1,500.
"His own farm, known as Davidson and
Lyenburger farms, 325 acres, at $33 per acre, $10,725; whch
he is to convey to the company and retain 100 acres off the
upper end of the whole tract, $3,300; Kelly's stone coal,
$600.
"Total, $17,692.
"All of which the said Kelly is bound to convey
to the said Campbell, and for which the said Campbell
is bound to pay to the said Kelly and to make him a title
to those lots in the town.
"I wish the Ohio Iron and Coal Company to assume all
liabilities fo the above and take all the contracts for their
own as if they had made them by a lawful agent in their own
name.
"Hanging Rock, May 12, 1849.
"JOHN CAMPBELL."
HOW THE NAME CAME TO BE -
Soon afterward
Messrs. Campbell and Kelly had the lands surveyed and
the company adopted a name for the town. In that important
transaction, as has always been the case since history began,
various parties have claimed the initiative. Charles
Campbell says that John Campbell, has father,
"several times stated that in naming Ironton he had wished to
include the word Iron; and the addition of Ton seemed best - a
ton of iron, an Iron-ton." Mr. Campbell, however,
adds that "no doubt George
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T. Walton has given the correct detalis of the final
conclusion in his letter to the Ironton Register."
The letter to which Mr. Campbell made reference
was written from Burden, Kansas, in February, 1901, and is as
follows: "It may be interesting to you to know how your town got
its singular name.
"After my father, Thomas Walton, made a
topographic survey of the lands above Storms creek, unde rthe
direction of John Campbell, William D. Kelly and others,
I made a rough plat of grounds and there was a meeting of the
directors of the town company called to meet at the office, I
think, of Campbell, Ellison and Company, at Hanging
Rock. There were present John Campbell, W. D. Kelly,
Dr. Briggs and the other members, and I had a plat that I
had drawn. The general plat was accepted, subject to
modifications, by Messrs. Campbell, Kelly and the
surveyors, upon actual measurement of the grounds.
"The naming of the town was then discussed, pro and
con, and a number of names were suggested. I sat listening
and conjuring up names. We wanted a name - one that would
suggest the business of the new city to be. I thought, as
the original of my family name was Wall-Town, why not wright the
new city Iron Town, abbreviated as my name, to Ironton. I
wrote the name on a piece of paper and handed it to John
Campbell. He jumped up as quick as thought and said in
his emphatic manner, 'That's it, George; that is the name
- Ironton. Yes, Ironton is its name. Write it on the
map, George.
"No vote was taken, or question
put. I suppose right there, at the office of Campbell,
Ellison and Company, the first time that word was ever
written, I wrote it. It must have pleased Mr. Kelly,
for in a few days he named his new boy Ironton Austin Kelly.
"The briars were so bad in many places that Mr.
Campbell carried a scythe much of the time to cut a way to
pull the measure through, and Mr. Kelly was a good second
with an axe. It was John, Bill and George
Davidson and Smith who carried the chain most of the
time.
"I often wonder what your city
engineer thinks when he puts down his nicely graduated steel
tape and sights through his nicely adjusted transit, of our
survey, as to courses and distances. We did not plant many
stones, and the stakes may have been moved, so we were perhaps
ot far wrong in intention at least; and, in fact, considering
the briars.
"I had known John Campbell ever since I was a
boy, and he a young man. I now think he was one of the
wisest, if not the wisest man, I ever knew. He was the
only man of the dozen or so of the company who fully
comprehended the mighty structure that they were laying the
foundation for. Will Kelly, like me, believed in
John's ability and profited by it.
"Ironton will probably never
realize the true greatness of its founder, John Campbell."
COMPANY TELLS WHY LOTS SHOULD SELL -
Altogether, there were 350 lots platted in the original site and
the announcement put forward by the Ohio Iron and Coal Company
was as
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follows: "There will be offered for sale on 20th and 21st of
June several hundred lots i the new town called Ironton,
situated at the terminus of the Iron Railroad on the Ohio River,
three miles above the Hanging Rock, Lawrence County, Ohio.
The situation is above the floods of 1832 and 1847 in a
beautiful bottom that is about three-quarters of a mile wide and
three miles long, dry and healthy. The landing is good the
whole length of the town for the largest boats, at all times.
There are upwards of thirty iron furnaces in twenty-five miles
of it, yielding upwards of 50,000 tons per year of as good
iron as the world affords, nine of which will bring their iron
to that point as soon as the Iron Railroad is completed six
miles, which will be in less than one year.
STATUS OF THE IRON RAILROAD -
"In two or three
years the Iron Railroad will be completed to near the line of
Jackson County, when the iron from 12 to 15 furnaces will come
to Ironton; and it is confidently hoped that the road will be
extended through Jackson and Ross counties in less than five
years, opening up the vast resources of the Jackson county iron
region, as well as the agricultural portions of Jackson and Ross
counties, and carrying them direct to market at Ironton.
To encourage which the Ohio Iron and Coal Company propose to
give good situations convenient to the water for rolling mills,
foundries and other large manufacturing establishments, and to
invest the proceeds of the sale of the lots in the stock of the
Iron Railroad Company to any amount not exceeding $100,000,
provided the County of Jackson, or the citizens thereof, invest
an equal amount.
"In this way the stock obtained in Lawrence County will
be sweled to $250,000; Jackson subscription, $100,000; making
$350,000.
"Through the river hills, we find the first thirteen
miles from surveyor's estimates will not exceed $7,000 per ile,
with a good grade; flat bar, two and a half by one inch on it;
and curves better than the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It
is confidently believed that the balance of the road will not
cost as much per mile on an average.
"If it should, we would have capital enough to extend
the road fifty miles, taking it near to the line of the Belpre
and Cincinnati railroad, at which point we hope the county of
Ross would take an interest in getting our iron and coal to
them, and opening a market for their produce to the Iron Region.
Should they decline it, we must seek foreign capital, or the
road must stop a few years only until the present stockholders
are able to take more stock. They are determined to have
the road completed by the time the road from Richmond, Virginia,
is completed to the Ohio river, which probably will be but a few
years. Then our road will be a carrier between the
Richmond road and the road from the mouth of the Big Sandy to
Lexington and Louisville; ina word, from those of the southeast,
south and southwest to those of the east, north and northwest,
making it one of the most prosperous roads to the stockholders
in the country."
The sale of lots came off, as advertised, but neither
the purchasers
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nor the stockholders of the railroad realized Mr. Campbell's
vision, although his main contention as to the commanding
position held by Ironton between the railroad systems
immediately north and south of the Ohio River seems to be
working out into something tangible in the days of the present.
But though events moved more slowly than the founder of
the city prophesied, he was confident of the eventual prosperity
of Ironton almost from its platting - almost, for he was wont to
say that he first felt sure of the success of Ironton when he
laid the cornerstone of the old Ironton Foundry, known as
Campbell, Ellison and Company.
FOUNDING OF THE IRON BANK -
After
the platting of the town, the sale of lots, the inauguration of
the Iron Railroad and the building of the rolling mill, the next
important event in the pioneer period of the town's history was
the founding of the amounts of their subscriptions, were as
follows: James O. Willard, $26,300; James
Rodgers, $11,000; John Campbell, $1,200; Hiram
Campbell, $800; D. T. Woodrow, $1,000. Total,
$40,300. Within the following three years a number of
stockholders were added to the original five, bringing the
capital stock up to $64,850. James Rodgers was
elected first presiden tof the bank and James O. Willard,
cashier. The Iron Bank was the predecessor of the First
National of Ironton, which was chartered in 1863.
"YOUNG AMERICA" AGAINST FOREIGN LABOR -
It would appear that
there was some feeling against the employment of "foreigners" in
the iron industries of the Hanging Rock Region. The
following letter received by Mr. Campbell may be called
circumstantial evidence of that fact:
"Hanging Rock Mar. 30, 1855.
"Dear Sir you will wonder whare this leter came from
but that is now of my business all that I wish to do is to Show
Some of your Errors you Call to the government for protecttion
from foreign Compition and your hole works that is your mills
are menopolized by foreigniers and them the worst kind Wealch I
am a native of theas United States and have lived in this
visinity for Some Six teen years get a Dys woork in Ironton or
Hanging Rock if you wish to doe well paterrnize Home Industry
and if I am not verry much mistake you are one of the S N
I am in a verry Delapidated Condition but I am to proud to tody
after any man for a job
"Yous Misteariously
"Young America."
AN EPOCHAL YEAR, 1881 -
As we have noted, the
year 1881 marked one of the great turning points in the advance
of Ironton as a city, when the Scioto Valley line
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was added to the old Iron Railroad, which, despite all
individual and community exertions, had not gained more than a
local scope. But with the coming of the western line, via
Portsmouth, the city acquired general transportation advantages
which were expanded from that time on.
At this very point marking such an epoch in the history
of Ironton and Lawrence County, a committee to citizens prepared
a very interesting pamphlet setting forth the industries,
resources and facilities of the region, from which the author
has gathered much information applicable to this chapter.
"Until the completion of the Scioto Valley railway in
January last," says the report, "the only means of
transportation were the Ohio river an dthe Iron Railroad.
The river is navigable for the larger class of steamers and
barges, from the mouth of the Big Sandy, then miles above
Ironton, to New Orleans, when the same class of water craft
cannot ascend the Ohio above the Twelve Pole shoals near
Burlington. For the transportation of heavy or bulky
materials, the Ohio river affords a cheap and ample facility to
and through the navigable waters of the Mississippi and its
principal tributaries.
"The Iron Railway, built in the year 1850 with local
capital and still owned by its builders, extnds from the Ironton
wharf northward thirteen miles, through the iron, coal and
limetone formation into the south part of Decatur township.
The city of Ironton has grown to its present strength and
population from the minerals brought here by this short line of
railway, with the advantages of river commerce.
RAILROADS -
"The extension of the
Page 307 -
ADDITIONS TO ORIGINAL SITE -
CITY AS A WHOLE IN 1881 -
"Accompanying the
progress of
Page 308 -
with any town of its size in the moral character, industrial
habits and general good citizenship of its inhabitants."
The iron manufactures are treated thus: "The iron
industry is the basis of Ironton's growth. Here is the
geographical and commercial center of the Hanging Rock Iron
Region. Sixteen furnaces, two rolling mills, one nail
works, a hoe works, two machine shops and two foundries transact
their business and sell their products at this point.
EXTENT OF IRON INDUSTRIES
-
"The capacity of
these institutions reaches a business of over four
Page 309 -
THE CLAY INDUSTRIES -
Besides the iron
industries Ironton has developed the
THE GOLDCAMP MILL COMPANY -
But the oldest
industry still active in Ironton is represented by the
CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY
Artificial ice has
been manufactured in Ironton since October, 1889, when the plant
was opened on the corner of Railroad and Seventh streets.
The Crystal Ice Company is representative of one of Ironton's
most useful industries.
IRONTON PORTLAND CEMENT
COMPANY
The Ironton Portland
Cement Company started its large plant southeast of the city
limits just south of the lands of the Hecla Iron and Mining
Company in December, 1902. Its property covers over five hundred
acres and the Maxvillc cement beds underlying its lands are
believed by experts to be unusually rich and deep. The
works have a capacity of from four
Page 310 -
hundred to six hundred barrels daily, and the company has an
authorized capital of $200,000. Among those most actively
identified with the industry have been S. B. Steece, H. A.
Martin, Albet C. Steece, F. C. Tomlinson, S. G. Gilfillan, John
H. Lucas, J. W. Slater and F. L.
McCauley.
THE W. G. WARD LUMBER COMPANY -
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -
FIRST NATIONAL BANK -
The banks of Ironton
have always been conducted conservatively and therefore
successfully, the two national institutions now in existence
originating in 1863.
Page 311 -
SECOND NATIONAL BANK -
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK -
IRON CITY SAVINGS BANK -
The Iron City Savings
Bank was organized in July, 1905, and commenced business in
February of the following year. Its first officers were
Page 312 -
D. C. Davies, president; T. J.
Gilbert, vice president; C. B. Edgerton, cashier.
There has been no change in the management except that Leon
Isaacsen has succeeded Mr. Davies as president.
The original capital, $30,000, has been increased to $50,000;
the deposits are $130,000, and surplus and undivided profits,
$34,000.
FIRST VILLAGE CODE
Under the provisions
DIVIDED INTO SEVEN
DISTRICTS.
Under the provisions
of the village code, Ironton was divided into seven districts
for school purposes and fire protection: No. 1 - All the
town site on the west side of Storms Creek.
No. 2. - Between Storms Creek and Railroad Streeet, the
Ohio River and Fifth Street.
No. 3. - North and west of Railroad and Fifth streets.
No. 4. - Between Railroad and Jefferson, the Ohio River
and Fifth Street.
No. 5. - Between Railroad and Jefferson streets, back
of Fifth.
No. 6. - Between Jefferson Street and East Ironton.
No. 7. - East Ironton.
FIRE PREVENTION RATHER THAN
CURE.
Page 313 -
POSTOFFICE MOVED TO UNION
HALL.
EARLY FIRE COMPANIES
In January, 1858, two
fire companies were organized under the village charter:
Good Will Company, twenty-one members, with John J. Vinton,
president, and George J. Shore, captain, and Good Intent
Company, twelve members, with John P. Merrill, president,
and E. F. Gillen first director.
The fire companies did not appear to have made great
progress, for August, 1865, the city obtained its first fire
engine, which was considered a wonder when it threw a stream to
the roof of the old Ironton House.
BUILDING OF THE WATERWORKS
KINGSBURY
SCHOOL BUILDING, IRONTON
Page 315 -
meeting B. Garvey presided and E. S. Wilson, then
editor of the Register, was secretary.
In February, 1871, the finance committee of the common
council contracted with J. Harsman and I. W. Iddings
for the sale of $100,000 waterworks bonds and arrangements were
made with the Holley Company to commence work at once.
As the site for the power plant the Ohio Iron and Coal Company,
sold the city 100 feet between Front Street and the river and
above Vernon. The specific contract with R. T.
Cloverdale called for the erection of a neat brick building
at that locality, 17,946 feet of pipe, the sinking of a well and
the running of the supply pipe under the river at a depth of
forty-seven feet, and twenty-five double and twenty-five single
fire plugs.
It would be immaterial to trace every step of the
construction and extension of the system. Although
progress has been made from year to year and the water furnished
has been excellent, as a whole, temporary defects have been
encountered, mainly due to the fact that the water was filtered
through a natural sandbar which in seasons of flood or other
river disturbances, affected the purity of the supply.l As
a protection against fire, the works have always been considered
an invaluable safeguard.
PRESENT WORKS
The present
waterworks comprise a substantial power house, the machinery of
which is operated by steam and three pumps, installed in 1882,
1891 and 1898, respectively, having a combined daily capacity of
6,250,000 gallons. the distribution system is ample for
all demands. Within the past eight years some $125,000 has
been expended on the improvement of the system, and, in response
to the recommendations of the public and the state board of
health, a modern filtration system is under way, at an estimated
cost of $300,000.
Aside from the protection against fire afforded by the
waterworks, Ironton has an organized department, with
accommodations for engine, hook and ladder and hose.
At the time the original works were discussed the city
council was about to dig cisterns all over townand buy two steam
engines, but this crude solution of the problem gave way to the
proposition to erect the waterworks, both for protection against
fire and epidemics largely traceable to impure water supply.
So the works were erected with a pressure of 120 pounds to the
square inch; pipes were laid through all the streets and fire
plugs placed at all the corners; and this feature of the system
has been especially developed year by year.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS -
Ironton's public
schools are sixty-five years old, during which period the
enrollment of pupils has increased from twenty-five to
twenty-five hundred, and the buildings from a little frame
shack, corner of Fourth
Page 316 -
and Centre streets, to seven structures, some of them of a
substantial and handsome appearance and modern arrangement.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR PIONEER SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION IN 1854 -
SCHOOL RULES -
The rules put in
force would be considered rather illiberal by those of the
present. They allowed only three weeks' vacaton during the
entire year, and "school kept" until 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
except
Page 317 -
from the 15th of
KINGSBURY BECOMES SUPERINTENDENT -
Charles Kingsbury,
as school examiner, had shown great interest in public education
from the first, but evidently Professor Beach, for some
reason, did not show the requisite qualities for a good
superintendent. The Rev. Joseph Chester, one of the
most influential of the visitors, heartily recommended Mr.
Kingsbury and wrote thus frankly to Mr. Campbell in
the spring of 1854: "I would say to you frnakly I do not believe
the present incumbent possesses all the requisites for success
with us. I am sorry to think or say so, but justice to
ourselves and the best interests of our schools, I think
requires that this much shall be said. The other teaches I
will say nothing of, except that I think in relation to Mr.
Metcalf he has not succeeded form some cause in obtaining
the respect of those under his care, and Miss Wakefield
needs some instruction to fit her for success with small
children. I believe the other teachers are all doing
well."
To those at all familiar with the history of the
Ironton schools it is known that Mr. Kignsbury was
appointed superintendent and served until 1865.
FIRST BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE -
The first brick
schoolhouse erected was the old Central, on Sixth Street between
Vernon and Washington.
EARLY HIGH SCHOOL GRAADUATES.
Although from the
early'50s there was a high school department, it was not
considered fairly organized until 1864 under the administration
of Superintendent Kingsbury, and among the graduates from the
early classes may be mentioned Julius Anderson, Mrs. Harriet
Kingsbury Burr, Mrs. Clara Crawford Davidson, S. B.
Steece, James Bull, Mrs. Dr. O. Ellison and E. S. Wilson.
ENROLLMENT IN 1856 AND 1860 -
By the summer of 1856
the records show that 725 pupils were enrolled in the three
Ironton schools (one had been built in West Ironton), and by
1860 that number had been increased to 1,114 - 549 males and 565
females.
Page 318 -
SUCCESSORS OF PROFESSOR KINGSBURY -
The successors of
Professor Kingsbury in the superintendency have been a
follows: A. C. Hirst, 1865-69; J. B. Battelle,
1860-70; A. M. Van Dyke, 1870-74; Henry S. Farewell,
1874-76; J. W. Wilson, 1876-79; C. F. Dean,
1879-81; A. J. Surface, 1881-83; R. S. Page,
1883-91; W. R. Cummings, 1891-94; _____ Mallory,
1894-95; N. C. Smith, 1896-97; S. P. Humphrey,
1897-1910; James T. Begg, 1910-13; N. J. Riter,
1913.
PRESENT ENROLLMENT AND SCHOOLHOUSES -
Within the corporate
limits of Ironton are now 3,893 youths of school age - 1,964
males and 1,929 females; 211 are colored and 373 attend the
parochial schools.
The seven school buildings, with their grade
accommodations, are as follows: Kingsbury, South Sixth;
high school and all grades.
Campbell, South Sixth, between Mulberry and Walnut;
from first to seventh grades.
Lawrence Street, between Seventh and Eighth; all
grades.
West Ironton, North Third Street; from first to sixth
grades.
Central, between Fifth and Sixth, Oak and Ellison; from
first to fourth grades.
Central, corner of Sixth and Ellison; from first to
fourth grades.
Lombard, South Fifth, corner of Clinton; from first to
third grades.
PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL REFORMS -
Superintendent Riter is energetic and efficient, and the
trend of his administration is well illustrated in the following
recommendations which he made in his report of January, 1915:|
"(1) That we erect an up-to-date
High School building
"(2) That our teachers be hired on
the merit system.
"(3) That all tuition money be expended for supplies.
"(4) That $300 b expended for manual training
machinery.
"(5) That the building principalships be abolished, and
instead have two grade supervisors - a primary supervisor and a
grammar grade supervisor.
"(6) To get better janitor service, that the chief
janitor be empowered to change janitors whenever he deems it
necessary.
"(7) That the Board of Education furnish all art
supplies."
BRIGGS LIBRARY AND MEMORIAL HALL -
The Briggs
Library Building, or Memorial Hall, houses not only the fine
collection of books made possible through the liberality and
forethought of Dr. Caleb Briggs, but the headquarters of
the G. A. R., the city council chamber and several municipal
offices. The history of the
Page 319 -
DETAILS OF THE FOUNDATION -
Page 320 -
Under date of Sept.
9, 1881, from his home in North Rochester, Massachusetts,
Doctor Briggs writes to Mr. Campbell as follows:
"Yours received, and would have answered before, but I
have felt hardly able to write.
"I agree fully with you that it is very desirable to
organize a library now, if sufficient funds can be obtained for
that purpose. I trust that this can be done. My
writing so fully in regard to what I proposed to do had this
object in view - I thought it might induce others to take an
active interest in the matter. But a considerable amount
of money is
MEMORIAL
HALL AND BRIGGS LIBRARY
necessary to make a respectable beginning; one
that will end in assured success. this beginning can be
made by the purchase of 1,200 to 1,400 volumes of the very best
books, having funds at interest to insure an income sufficient
to pay for the services of a librarian, room rent and for adding
100 or 200 volumes to the library every year. A room 25 by
35 would be fully large enough at first; and it would not be
necessary to employ a librarian more than two half days in the
week for the exchange of books. Many large and valuable
libraries have been built up in this way from small beginnings;
and perhaps it may be the best way. But if liberal
subscriptions shall be made for the library now, more books can
be purchased at first, a librarian can be paid for a larger part
of the time, and more money put at interest to pay for his
services, the
Page 321 -
Page 322 -
THE PRESS -
The press of Ironton
is represented by the veteran, the Register, which has been
republican as long as there has been a party by that name; the
Irontonian, democratic since it was founded thirty-seven years
ago, and the News, an independent newspaper which is in its
seventeenth year.
THE IRONTON REGISTER -
Page 323 -
THE IRONTONIAN -
The Irontonian,
semi-weekly, was first issued in 1878, the morning edition being
established in 1888. It is issued by the Irontonian
Publishing Company, of which James I. Gorman is
president. The editor of the paper is Harry M. Paul,
formerly associated in the same capacity with the Register.
IRONTON NEWS -
The Ironton News is a
semi-weekly newspaper founded by Charles L. Collett and
Harry L. Collett, under the firm name of Collett
Brothers, Nov. 25, 1899. There has been no change in
proprietorship.
TRANSPORTATION AND ELECTRICITY -
Transportation and
lighting are matters which are of vital importance to any city,
the Ohio Valley Railway and Electric Company furnish-
Page 324 -
ing both transportation and electric lighting and power.
The interurban railway system through Ironton and to Hanging
Rock and Coal Grove originated in the Ironton and Petersburg
Street Railway, which obtained a right-of-way through the city
in January, 1888. By the 4th of July of that year the
first car was run between West Ironton and Petersburg and by
July 4, 1891, from Hanging Rock to Petersburg, opposite the City
of Ashland, Kentucky.
In August, 1889, the city made a contract with the Fort
Wayne (Ind.) Electric Company to light the stores and residences
of the place.
These two enterprises were eventually taken over by the
Ohio Valley Railway and Electric Company.
NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION -
The natural gas used
by the people of Ironton is piped mainly from West Virginia from
an approximate distance of 160 miles. The supply for the
city, Hanging Rock, Coal Grove and most of Southern Ohio is
controlled by the United States Fuel Gas Company, with
headquarters at Pittsburgh. The rate for domestic service
is 27½ cents per thousand cubic
feet, less a discount of 2½ cents per thousand if paid on or
before the 10th of the month following that in which the gas has
been consumed. The rate for commercial service, less a
discount of 1 per cent for payment on or before the 20th, is as
follows: First 150,000 cubic feet, or part thereof, in
each calendar month, 26 cents per thousand; second 150,000 feet,
16 cents; all over 300,000 feet, 9 cents.
HISTORIC FLOODS -
Lawrence County, in
common with all of Southern Ohio adjacent to the Ohio River and
its large tributaries, has suffered from numerous floods, but
none were more severe than those of 1884 and 1913; and Ironton,
especially, has cause to remember those uprising of the
Beautiful River. From the testimony of various old
settlers it would appear that the flood of 1847 was considerably
higher than that of 1883, and that even in 1832 the Ohio rose
nearly to the height it attained in that year, but all three
were overtopped by the great rise of 1884.
The first marked rise was noted February 6th of that
year; for two days it gained at the rate of two inches an hour,
when it was within a foot of the high-water mark of 1883; by
daylight of Saturday it was three inches higher, and by Monday
morning four feet above. At that time, on February 11th,
half of Ironton was under water - all of West Ironton and the
gusiness section were covered with yellow, muddy water from one
to eight feet deep. From Fourth Street to the river was a
continuous sheet sweeping on to the hills. Skiffs were
plying about loaded with goods or passengers, and it was hard to
realize that solid ground was underneath the seething waters.
Page 325 -
In its account of
this historic flood the Register says:
"On Thursday (7th) the backwaters from Rachel
began to appear on the cross streets and to submerge the lower
end of West Ironton. ON Friday the tide backed up over the
culverts and invaded some of the stores. A continuous
sheet of water held West Ironton in its cold grasp. The
inhabitants of the one-story houses had long ago fled and all
others had taken themselves to the second stories. The
Court House, engine houses and all vacant room were filled
with the unforunates that had fled from desolated homes.
By Friday night Rachel reached the farther gutters of Third
Street and began creeping on Hayward's floor. All the
store rooms along Center from Third to Fourth had been
abandoned. At 8 o'clock Friday night the tide was within a
foot of the mark of 1883. On Saturday it began to creep
over Second Street.
"Saturday (February 9th) was a day of great alarm.
The flood had gone beyond the 1883 mark and was still advancing.
The rain added to the sorrowful scene. The water swept up
Second Street as far as Lambert's foundry and on the
cross streets below town waters of Rachel and the river were
meeting. In the afternoon the waves lapped the door-sill
of the Sheridan House, and on Lawrence a swift current started
through the street. The flood had reached the door-sills
of nearly all the stores on the west side of Second Street.
The only cross street passable was Railroad. The military
was out for the protection of property, but no vandalism seemed
imminent."
The newspaper account goes on to say that at dusk of
Saturday boats were everywhere plying along Third Street, the
approach to the post-office having been cut off at that time.
A soup house had been opened for the relief of tired, chilled
and often homeless sufferers, and before Sunday the water had
closed every business house in the city except the First
National Bank. Then people commenced to abandon their
houses on Fourth Street, Although not a few hung around
the second stories looking for the waters to abate. By
Sunday afternoon the river had reached to the show windows on
Second Street and the goods went up higher and higher.
Water was two feet deep in the Second National Bank and the
boarders in the Ironton House were driven to the second story in
a ody. It was raining Sunday night and the rise continued.
Monday was a busy day for boat building, the favorite landing
place of the water craft being Railroad and Fifth streets.
Various awnings in the business district commenced, to et soaked
on Monday. All the mill yards were under water from four
to eight feet and piles of lumber and hundreds of nail kegs were
floating around. By Tuesday, the 12th, the water had
reached a height of eighty-one inches above that of 1883, and
from that time on commenced to recede. The Belfont Mill at
Ironton, all the merchants, and Means, Kyle and Company, at
Hanging Rock, were heavy losers. It is estimated that
altogether the 1884 flood caused a damage to the people of
Ironton and vicinity amounting to nearly two hundred thousand
dollars.
The flood of March, 1913, was even more destructive,
causing damage to sections of West Ironton, Hanging Rock, Coal
Grove, Chesapeake,
Page 326 -
Proctorsville, Millersport and Athalia estimated at $1,500,000.
Warnings of the coming trouble had been given for a week before
March 29th, and both a Scioto and Ohio left their banks.
The most damage was done in the district below Storms Creek.
The high-water mark was reached Mar. 31, 1913, which was 67 feet
10 inches above the average river level and 14½
inches above the flood of 1884. No lives were lost as a
direct result of the fury of the flood, although several lives
are known to have been sacrificed from exposure.
VILLAGE OF COAL GROVE -
Outside of Ironton
the largest center of population in Lawrence County is the
Village of Coal Grove, four iles to the southeast. Its
population increased from 506 in 1890 to 1,759 in 1910.
Its main reliance is placed on the status of the Yellow Poplar
Lumber Company, which working up to its average capacity,
employs several hundred men. Its yards, mills and other
buildings at Coal Grove cover fifty acres of ground and the
output of lumber has been about forty million feet annually.
the company draws its supplies from the country along the Big
Sandy above Elkhorn City; in other words, above the "Breaks" of
the Sandy through the Cumberland Mountains. It is the
heaviest owner of yellow poplar and oak stumpage in that region.
The poplar has been almost cleared from the lands of the
company, but its large stock on hand is being disposed of, and
its oak timber is being manufactured into flooring and other
finished forms. Plain and quarter-sawed oak, chestnut and
basswood are also among its stock.
Coal Grove, originally considered the center of
promising coal deposits, is a village which is strung along the
plant of the Yellow Poplar Lumber Company, and outside of that
industry comprises half a dozen or more stores and business
houses. It has a well-conducted, up-to-date school - a
union establishment under the superintendency of F. E.
Melvin.
OLD HANGING ROCK -
The old village of
Hanging Rock is three miles to the northwest of Ironton, and
since the shutting down of the furnaces has been on the decline,
as to population and general progress. It has lost nearly
two hundred people since 1890, when it had a population of 8466.
Two stores represent its business. The union village
school is under the superintendency of Gleason Grimes.
SOUTH POINT VILLAGE -
South Point Village
lies partly in Fayette and partly in Perry townships, and has
remaind about stationary for the past thirty years. It has
three or four stores, the main settlement being along the Ohio
River nearly opposite Catlettsburg, Kentucky. It is ten
miles southeast of Ironton.
Page 327 -
THE OLD COUNTY SEAT -
Burlington, the old
county seat, four miles east of South Point, is little more than
a cluster of dilapidated buildings.
PROCTORVILLE, CHESAPEAKE AND ATHALIA.
In the southeastern
part of the county are three incorporated villages, which have a
fair trade drawn from the prosperous adjacent country. The
oldest of these is Proctorville, still quite a shipping point on
the Ohio River, with a population of nearly six hundred and a
village school under L. C. Martin. Chesapeake, also in
Union Township, is about the same size. The other
incorporated village is Athalia, in the eastern part of Rome
Township, with a population of perhaps two hundred and fifty
people. <
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