Columbiana County, Ohio - Chapter 9: The Mills of the Pioneers, 1905

Chapter 9: The Mills of the Pioneers

The Early Grist-Mills and Stnvmills Went Hand in Hand - Small Streams in County Furnished Much Water Ftrn-er - Advent of Steam Pou-cr - Decimation of the Virgin Forest - Many Woolen-Mills in the Fast - Tanneries Were Numerous in the Early Days - The First Paper-Mill in Ohio - Attempt at Cotton Manufacture Abortive - Distilleries Furnished "Old Rye" to Retail at J5 iv>i/jr <i Gallon - "Old Gauge's" Daily Ration - Some Statistics.

The pioneers in course of time, here and there, built mills and factories, albeit they were and sometimes inefficient. Oxen and horses, and sometimes even men in some of the early days supplied motive power where streams did not abound, or where the water failed to give requisite force. But fortunately streams were numerous, and generally a sufficient water power could be secured to furnish power necessary to operate these primitive industries. The grinding of grain, to furnish food for man and beast, was naturally among the first needs of the early settlers. "Hand mills,"' says an old history, "were sometimes made and used for that pur|K3se; and then, in Columbian! County, as in that far off land of sacred memories, 'two women might be seen grinding at the mill.' These mills were very rude of construction, and their effect upon the grain was little more than to crush it. without any provision for bolting." The horse or ox power was furnished by the animals tramping on u tread- wheel. But these were soon superseded by water power, and this later by sterun. Klcvators in grist-mills in those early days were practically unknown, the brawn of the miller making up for the defect. The grain must needs be lifted into the hopjier, and when it was ground and fell into a chest in a story below, the miller would put it into a sack in quantities proportionate to his strength, carry it upstairs and pour it into another hopper from which it was run into the bolt, and through it into a chest below, ready to be divided and sacked for delivery to the customer. "The stones, used for grinding in most of the earlier mills were very imperfect grits obtained from some of the western ranges of the Alleghanici, and with some of the fragments of millstones to be seen on the kinks of some of the streams upon which mills used to stand, are to lie found multitudes of fossil shells." I -'lour ground by the stones of the early days would hardly pass inspection in the markets to-<lay : but it had the advantage of being even more wholesome and nutritious than the fine brands of the modern mills, where it is claimed by many "the life is ground out of the grain" by the fine modern lx»lting and "patent processes."

While in those early days the streams which were so important a factor in furnishing mill power, were far from perennial, yet they "went dry" less frequently than they were wont to do in the later days when the hillsides and valleys were denuded of the primeval forests.

"Tbe first grist-mill in tbc county was built by Joseph I'awcett, on ( ar|>euter's Run. just lxlow the present site of East Liverpool. Tbc second grist-mill was built by John Beaver on Little Heaver ( reek, one and a half miles from tbe river. Opposite the grist-mill Beaver built a sawmill, which was the first sawmill in the township. Tbe second sawmill was built by- Joseph I'awcett at Jelbro. just lielow East Liverpool. A steam sawmill was erected alioi.t 1830 by W illiam Scott and John Hill on the Ohio River, about where Mauley & Cartwright's pottery now stands. The mill was, not long after destroyed by tire."

About 1805 John Emerich, having built his log cabin in Butler township, where later the settlement of Valley was located, built a small grist-mill and started tbe busy wheel. From that time up to 19x55 a grist-mill has been in constant operation on or near tbe same site, passing through many hands. John H. Stanley is said to have carried his grist five or six miles to this mill for over 50 years - for many of these years on horscliack - w hich was in the early days the more usual means of conveyance of wheat, corn and rye to the mill, to be returned, in tbe form of Hour, corn-meal and bran, by tbe same means of conveyance. So inadequate were tbe nulling facilities at certain periods in those early years, and so irregular the running at times from a shortage of water power, that it was sometimes necessary for a customer to keep a grist at the mill constantly, that he might be sure to get his turn.

Among the earlier grist-mills in Center township was tbe one built in the first decade of the past century - almost on the site where the old stone mill which was still standing near Lislxm at the beginning of the new century - by Edmund Hays, and to the northeast and adjoining the corporation William Harbaugh built a grist-mill alxmt 1S1 This in later years was converted into a distillery. The mill built by Edmund I lavs was destroyed by lire in 1845. At that time it was owned by Daniel Harbaugh, who. a few years later rebuilt t restructure, and in 1870 sold it to John S. Hunter. This mill was still, in 1905. being operated by the linn of Hunter & McCord.

About 1830 James Cullwrtson started 1 grist-mill in section 17, w hich he later dispose I of to Abram Brandeberry and Stephen l ien dricks. Joshua Bowman purchased it in 1870 " and removed it to a site on the State road, adding steam power in 1874. This mill, and a sawmill a little farther up the stream, were still being operated near the close of the century by Joshua Bowman.

On the middle fork of tbc Beaver, in the southwestern comer of Middleton township, Samuel Conkle erected a grist-mill in 1830, and later a sawmill. These were later tbc property in turn of James Gaston, Thomas Whitacre and Philander Gaston. Philander Gaston still owned and operated them in 1905.

At a very early date in tbe past century William l.aughlin built on Brush Run, section 13, what was popularly known as a "thundergust mill." most of the work upon which he di I w ith bis own hands. In this mill a hand-holt did duty for some years.

It may not be amiss to explain the signification of the term "thunder-gust mill." Tn many streams the water would get so low indry seasons as to keep the grist-mill idle much of the time. So when a "thunder-gust" or a heavy rain-fall would come, the swollen stream, which would Ik- one result, would start the mill for a time; and then there would be a scramble among tbe patrons to see who would get their grists attended to first.

Edward Whitacre and sons built a saw and grist-mill in 1808 on the narrows of the west fork ,,f the Little Beaver, south of where Guilford now stands. In 1810 Nicholas Miller built one just l>elow that point. Hugh Hillis and Joseph Bailey purchased Whitacre's mill, and ran it until 1846 when it was abandoned. George Brown put up a grist-mill in 1810 on the site later occupied by Grim's mill. In 1808 James Craig, wlio laid out Hanover, built a saw and grist-mill, which in 1817 was purchased by William Kennedy and Arthur I^ockard, who put into it the fust buhrstones seen in those parts. In 181 1 Amos Krost located in Hanover township, and in 1814 built a saw and grist-mill on the west fork of the Little Beaver.

As early as 181 1 William Crawford built a combined saw and grist-mill below Williamsport, in Madison township. Aaron Brooks built a grist-mill on the west fork of the Beaver, and in 1847 sold it to one Hamilton. Later still it was removed to Wcllsville and changed to a steam mill.

The first grist-mill of any sort in Middleton township was one built by John Leslie, in which corn was ground by hand power. The first grinding by water power was done by Benjamin Wright, about 1801. He had a small corn-mill on Brush Run, near the west line of section 24.

About 1802 Aaron Brooks erected, on the Little Beaver, what was the first grist-mill in St. Clair township. The water power on the Little Beaver was good and lasted most of the year; and so, at different periods, many sawmills and carding-machines were built and operated along its tortuous course.

Of one of the substantial old mills of the county, Ensign's history says: "Jonathan Fawcett built in 1841 the stone mill which stands on a branch of the middle fork of Beaver Creek (Salem township). The mill is 40 by 61 feet in size, and rive ami a half stories high. The foundation is laid 25 feet below the level of the road. The walls are four feet thick for 12 feet of its height, and thence decrease to three feet and two feet in thickness. The property was leased in 1836 for 99 years, with privilege of renewal. It is now ( in 1879) in possession of B. Rancy."

In 1804 Levi Blacklcdgc built a grist-mill on the middle fork of Beaver Creek, in Salem township where the mill of I'riah Tccgardcn stood 100 years later. The following year he built a sawmill just below the grist-mill, which in 1816 was replaced by a larger and more permanent mill, which did' duty for three-quarters of a century.

Near the beginning of the century - earlier than 1810 - owing to the excellent water power j of Bull Creek, grist-mills were built above and ! lvelow what was later the town site of New , Waterford. Most of these had gone out of , ; Imsincss prior to the close of the 19th centun ; but some of the old structures stand, as do others in other parts of the county, monumenis to the industry and thrift of past generation*.

Christ & Roos about 1848 built a waterpower grist-mill in New Waterford. A few years later it passed into the hands of the Sillimans, who added steam power. In August, 1865, it was destroyed by fire. In 1873 James Scott, who had owned and operated a mill on Big Bull Creek from 1867 to 1873, erected on the old site of the burned mill the "Tip Top Mills." Three runs of stones were installed in the new mill, the motive power being both water and steam. Samuel C. Scott, son of James Scott, was proprietor of and still operated the "Tip Top Mills" in 1905. Their capacity was then 60 barrels per day. Steam 1 power was generally introduced, at least in the i larger mills of the county, about 1858.

To go back a little - the great-grandfather of Samuel C. Scott had built, in 1808, the stone mill at Mill Rock, which was still running in 1905. "almost as good as new" after nearly a century of service.

An Italian named Eishel, who settled in Washington township in 1804, built the first grist-mill in the township on the site now known as Clark's Mills. In this primitive mid the flour was sifted through a cloth tacked upon a box frame. The first grist-mill of any imjiortance, however, in Washington township, was built in Salineville in 1838 bv James Fanner and Isaac Kirk. In the '70's arid '80's it was owned by J. C Lacock & Company, and [ later by other parties. This old mill was still ' being run. in 1905. by Strabley & Faloon. The mill in its time has done a large business, having a capacity of 16.000 barrels a year. In I 1877 McCarry, Black & CotiHKiny built a gristmill near the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad station. It had a capacity of about 25 barrels a dav, and was still being run in 1905 by Mc- ! Carry K Black.

Faloon Brothers, also in 1 877. They operated two runs of wheat buhrs and one chopping buhr. having a capacity of over 20 barrels of flour a day. It went out of l*usiness about n/»3.

In 1806 Daniel Swcaringcn built a gristmill on Little Yellow Creek upon the farm of his son, K. Swearingen. In 1810. higher up on the same stream, Joseph Ritter built :i grist-mill, on the site afterwards occupied bv John C. Smith's "California Mill."

Lindsay Cameron built the grist-mill in Sf. Clair township in 1837, which still stood and bore his name in 1905. C. Metsch I sought it in 1862. and operated it until 1891. In 1856 Josiah Thompson, S. Frederick and S. Jackman Irtiilt a mill at Fast Liverpool, which in 18-0 they sold to C. Metsch, which the latter ran until 1892. when it was destroyed by fire.

A grist-mill was built in t827 by Gwitv.i & NefT. on Front (or Water) street. Wellsvine, near where in 1905 stood the residence of Gen. J. W. Rcillv. But this mill never achieved great success, and was run but a few years. Cameron's mill and Hibbett's mill, on Little Yellow Creek, near Wellsvillc. the former built in the first half, the second in the last half of the 19th century, were still old landmarks in 1905. but Ixith of these, with scores if not hundreds of similar mills throughout the country, had lon^ since gout out of the business, which the big trust mills of the country had largely monopolized. The Jenkins mill, a small one, built in Wellsvillc in the early '50's, did a good custom work for many years. In the '8o's B. M. Allison & Brother built a small model grist-mill in Wellsville, which in 1905 was still run by J. W. Russell.

Sawmills Of Thk Pionf.Krs

The sawmill was from the early days intimately as-ociated with the grist-mill. Alxwt 1X15 one of the pioneer sawmills of the northern |>;irt of the county was built on the farm of Henry \\'introl>c. who entered section 8 in Butler township. On the Wintrolie farm, later owned by Joseph Lynch, was an orchard occupying the highest farming land site, by actual survey. Iietween the Ohio River at its ncarc-1 point and Cleveland.

In 18 1 5 William Wells, founder of Wellsville, with his son James - who died when past 90 near the close of the century - Imilt on Little Yellow Creek, near where the big sheet steel mill later stood, the first sawmill in Yellow Creek township. But the sawmill which, of all those in the township, made and held the record tor long service and large output, was that built some time l>efore the '50'$ on the river bank near the foot of Xinth street. Wellsville. and operated for many years by Smith & Mc- Gregor, and later by Giles McGregor. It. however, was torn down about the beginning of the new century to give place for fine res.- dences.

The water power, furnished by the several streams within the bounds of Flkr'un township, was early an important factor in the industrial progress of the ]»eople of that township. Kusign's "History of Columbiana County" treats the subject at some length. The quotation following is from this work:

"Among the first improvements of the water power of the towaship for milling purposes were those of Isaac James, on section 2. About 1810 he utilized the power of Little Bull Creek to o|>eratc saw and gTist-mills which were carried on by the James family many years. The sawmill was abandoned about 1850, but the grist-mill is yet operated. On the same section but lower on the stream. John Snyder had a pioneer grist-mill which was destroyed by a storm and never rebuilt: and still lower down the stream Nathan Heald had a sawmill and Joseph Martin a carding-machine. Ix>th of which have passed away. These were succeeded by a sawmill, which is now operated by John Ralev (1879). On the north quarter of section 12 Joseph and Henry Morlan put up a sawmill in 1820. which, after l>eing operated many years, was allowed to go down: and on the same section, near the township line. Joseph Morlan. Sr.. and his son Stephen erected a grist-mill in 1822. which, in an improved condition, yet remains the property of William Taylor. A sawmill was here built at a more recent pcri'»d. and steam [xiwer has been supplied to operate both, supplementary to the water power. On section 2 a steam sawmill has been of>erate<l during the past 20 years by Hiram Bell. In the eastern part of the township, on Bip Run James Brisbine started a sawmill, a pioneer among mills, which has long since been discontinued, and at a point lower down the stream Joseph Henry erected a mill in 1846. which is yet carried on by him. On the northern part of section 35. John Cannon employed the power of Middle Beaver to operate a grist-mill from 181 2 to the building of the canal, when the mill site was destroyed. Above this point, on Pine Run. Christian Bowman erected a sawmill some time after 1812, which was discontinued in about 10 years. In 1845 he put up another mill, farther up the stream, which has ever since been operated. In 1867 steam power was supplied. The present owner is William Armstrong.

"The first to use the power of Elk Run was Samuel Kemble. He built a saw and gristmill on section 9, and successfully operated them for a numtier of years. Subsequently, the grist-mill |«ssed into the hands of Seth McClure. It is now operated bv Isaac Chamberlain, and the sawmill by James Walker, both mills having been rebuilt or repaired a number of times. The manufacture of linseed oil and cement was carried on at these mills at different periods a number of years ago. On the same stream Alexander Rogers built a mill on section 16 about 1825. which was afterwards operated by Samuel Kemble. and later by Nathan Simpkins. This power and the one below, on ihe same section, are at present idle. The latter was improved in 1 831 by James Clark, who put up a woolen mill 40 by 80 feet, two and a half stories high. In 1840. James Batchelor and Thomas Crook Iwean the manufacture of woolen goods at this point, and after a few years the former was succeeded by William Allaway. From 18.71 to i8f>2 Thomas Crook was the sole proprietor and sold to Joseph Hudd who abandoned the mill two yenrs later. The building has l>een demolished. On the Middle Beaver, near Center township line, is a small mill belonging to Gen. Jacob B. Roller. Here Lewis Kinney had a cardingmill and later a woolen-mill, which he operated in connection with Orth and Beaumont. The latter removed his interests to New Lisbon. The power is feeble and but little employed. In the north-western part of the township, on Middle Run. Thomas Hawkins operated a sawmill in 1828, and on this site mills have since been kept up by the Hawkins family. In 1843 Thomas Pike erected a mill farther up the same stream, which was later carried on by William Pike. Nearly all the foregoing industries were small, and operated only to supply the local demand."

How Millport Got Its Name

Millport in Franklin township was so named from the early occupancy of a portion of the village site by a grist-mill and a sawmill : and in later years Thomas McKerren operated a steam sawmill in the village.

A little northeast of East Fairfield, in Fairfield township, the James family established a sawmill in the early days, which was abandoned before the middle of the century, and farther up the stream, on section 35, a steam sawmill was built in i8<;6 by J. Allman. Joel Wickersham. David Wickersham and Joel Ritchie, which became the property, in January. 1877, of W. L.' English, and was operated by him for many vears. [Ensign's "History of Columbiana County."]

On the headwaters of Elk Run. on section 32, George Freed, at an early day. started a sawmill and a grist-mill, which were later carried on by B. Dillwortb, and subsequently had frequent changes of ownership. Levi Miller established a fulling-mill and sawmill in 1832 just below Hanover. This mill had the distinction of being the first in Hanover township, to use steam power. It continued in operation alrrnt 30 years.

Ensign's history says of the early mills erected in Knox township: "The first mill erected in the township - a sawmill - was on ' section 20, and was built by the pioneer John I Thomas in the year 1806. This sawmill was 1 operated by Mr. Thomas until 181 5 when he I was severely injured by an accident. John Dean succeeded to the ownership, and ran the mill three years. In 1818 the property and 50 acres of land adjoining were purchased by Rev. Joshua Beer. This old pioneer structure was long since destroyed, and removed to make room for modern improvements. The old Redmond saw and grist-mill built alxmt 1830; the Georgetown mill built in 1848, by John Dellenbaugh ; a steam sawmill on section Hi, one on section 30, and another on section 3; and the grist-mill owned by Andrew Whiteleather, at Georgetown, built in 1868-69. comprise the principal industries of the township."

As early as 1803 Aaron Brooks, who had, about 1801, settled on section 14, Middlctou township, set up a saw and grist-mill. In the fall of 1804 he sold it to Baltzer Young. In the following year Young brought his family from Pennsylvania, and lived on section 14 until his death in 1846. Quite a mimlier ot sawmills were built and oj>erated at different periods on the small streams of Middleton township. One of the principal of these mills was that of James Brooks, built on Rough Run in 1825. That mill and others w hich succeeded it on the same site were operated in turn by Adam Conkle, Johnson Chaney, John G. Gaston, Samuel Henderson and John Donovan.

There is an indistinct record of a sawmill being built in 1803 on section 19 in Unity township, on the bank of Bull Creek, which afterwards passed into the hands of Frederick \i< >> ; and Richard Beeson, who had entered section 32 in the same township in 1801. built one or the first grist-mills.

Karly in the last century the excellent water power to l>e found on the many streams :n West township was utilized for the operation of sawmills and grist-mills. The Davis mill north of East Rochester was built about iS.'o by David E)avis, whose father, Isaac Davis, was one of the pioneers of the county. This was considered for many years one of the be>t saw and grist-mills in the county, and for .1 long time supplied a large proportion of the people of West and adjoining townships witn flour, mill-feed and manufactured lumljcr.

After the completion of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, some of the product of the m;"l found its way into the Cleveland market. In 1878 Henry Wilhelm and Owen Stackhousc became proprietors of the mill. Joseph Mil- Ixnirn and Jacob Thomas in 1831 built a sawmill, which in 1878 was rebuilt and became the property of Kelley & Albright, though retaining the euphonious name of "Milbourn's Mill."

Sawmills and gristmills were notably numerous on the north, middle and west forks of the Little Beaver, and on Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek. In Center, Elkrun, Fairfield, Middleton ami Unity townships, from about 1810 or 1815 to near the close of the century; and a number of them continued in operation even tip to 1905.

The sawmill, first propelled by water power and later by steam, has been a great adjunct to advancing civilization ; though it has exercised a powerful influence in the destruction of the forests, which, owing to the fact that Columbiana county has always been more plentifully supplied with native forests - and that other fact that her land-owners have encouraged newforest growth - than some neighlxiring counties, had never Ixren keenly felt up to the first decade of the new century. But in the later years the old stationary mill propelled both bv the water-wheel and by steam have lieen largely superseded by the portable mill. This newer device moved from place to place and did custom work for the farmers and others. The rapidity of its operations soon cast in the shade the sl.iw plodding of the old "mulev" saw; and picket and board fences in many places superseded the old "worm" or "zigzag" rail fences, even before the days of the wire fence.

Contemporaneous, in the early days, with the saw and grist-mill, although before the close of the 19th century practically forced out of business in Columbiana County, was the woolen-mill.

And Representative Citizen'S

dustry - was started in ]8i_> or 1813 by Mr. Hollingsworth. It was located on a site immediately north of the present site of the Canton bridge. Near the same place Caleb Whitacre built a grist-mill and a sawmill - the same site l>eing later *>ccupied by Matthew Elder with n ful lin§r-niil I and carding machine. These were destroyed by fire al>ont the middle of the century. The New Lislxm Woolen Factory Company was incorporated in 1818.

In 1835 John McCook, head of one of the "righting McCook" families, in company with others, built a woolen factory in Lisbon. A few years later it was leased by Godfrey Beaumont and sons, ami continued to run for a numlxer of years, but it had, in 1905. 1>een idle for many years.

In section 30, Center township, on the west branch of Beaver Creek, about 1830, Abner Moore and Reuben P. McXamee built a fulling and carding-mill, which was run until i8<So, when it was razed by Robert McClellan. At the forks of the Heaver, in the same township, a small woolen-mil! was put in operation, which was run until about 1850. when it was abandoned. On section 6 Criah Tcegarden started a carding-machine al>out 1830 w hich was discontinued when the Sandy and Reaver Canal was built.

A writer in the "History of the Upper Ohio Valley" records this bit of history : "The first mills in the county for the promotion of the manufacture of wool w ere fitted up for carding the wool or fulling the cloth, or lx>th combined. The carding-machine produced a better and cheaper roll than could be produced on hand cards. These rolls were spun on hand wheels, and the yarn woven on hand looms, and then returned to the mill to he fulled and dressed. The fulling could be done very much lietter by machinery - if not cheaper - than hv tramping, pounding and kicking - the methods adopted in in the homes for fulling. In time the spinning jenny and ixnver loom w ere added, and woolcnniills established, which produced an excellent <|iia1ity of well-finished cloths. Woolen-mills in the county are neither numerous or extensive, but fill important places in meeting local demands. A mill of this kind was started ne;ir

Kensington. Hanover township, by Samuel Holland, in 1814, and was purchased and continued after his death, in 1837, by William Hicklen. who in 1854 built a larger and letter mill and added steam power, and in 1864 sold it to J. Hudd & Sons, who continue to make cloth, blankets, knitting yarns, etc., to the present writing (1801 >."

The old woolen factory w hich was a landmark for half a century in the southern part of New Lisbon was built in 1850 by Samuel Thompson. It passed into other hands, and after a checkered history financially, under two or three administrations, it fell into the hands of John Ogden 8t Company, under whose management a good business was done tetween the years 1864 and 1874. Then The New Lisbon Woolen Manufacturing Company was formed with John Ogden as president. Originally the machinery was propelled by water power from the canal, but later steam power was put in. After the decadence of the wool business, about 1893, the factory was shut down and alxnit 1900 the building was destroyed by fire.

At Elkton, in 1843. William Kernble erected a woolen factory. In this building the Clark Brothers manufactured woolen goods for mamyears. They were succeeded by David Farrand, who operated the factory until 1871, when it was abandoned. West of Columbiana, on the creek, in section 8 of Fairfield township. William Nichols in the '40's converted a gristmill into a woolen factory, which was operated for many years by J. Early and memtiers of his family.

Alwut 181 2 David Hanna put up a cardingmachine on Little Beaver Creek north of the Georgetown road, and not long after James Cocker erected a similar machine lower down the stream.

"About 1825 John Stanley built a fran-e woolen factory for custom work where the Pickett House now stands (in 1879). The first engine used in Salem was in the factory and was brought from Pittsburg. The factory was destroyed by tire and the citizens assiste 1 Mr. Stanley to rebuild, which he did on the corner of Lislxtn and Main streets where the Baptist Church now stands. A few years lat.-r he sold to Robert Camptiell, who. in 1834. sold to Zadok Street. Mr. Street continued until 1845, when he sold the property, including: machinery. A woolen factory had l)een started about 1830 by Mr. Allison. In 1840 it was sold to James Brown, by whom it was used for custom work. The factory was situated in the west end of the town. The business was continued by Mr. Brown until 1850, James Brown, his son, now a merchant on Main street, doing the last carding." James Brown. Jr., was still in the mercantile business on Main street h I9<>5-

An Industry Almost Odsolktk In Thk County

Among the very earliest of what may 1»c called the manufacturing industries of Columbiana County was the curing of raw hides and tanning them into leather. Ensign's old history says: "John Arter and Daniel Harbaugh came to New Lisbon as early as 1805. and established tanneries - the first named at a location where John, a grandson, continues the same occupation, and Mr. Harbaugh on the premises where his successors still reside (1879). the Inisiness having ceased there long since. Nearly 60 years ago Joseph Richardson started the tannery on Market street, where it is continued ir active operation by Simon Spiker. Daniel Hostetter located a tannery on the northeast corner of the Public Square some time about 1835. It was carried on by George Garretson afterwards, then by Simon Spiker. and w hen discontinued was owned by George Nelson."

In 1810 John Finery established a small tannery on the place, near Hanover, for many years 'subsequent to 100; occupied by F. Sheraw. but the establishment never did a large business.

Very early in the century - lietorc 181 5 - Joseph James established a tannery in Fast Fairfield. Fairfield township, which later became the property of B. J. Ferrall. by whom it was conducted for more than 40 years, when it was discontinued. At Millport, Franklin

1 ilton. In 1812 it became the property of Richard F. Randolph, who greatly increased its capacity. After the retirement of Richard, the business was successfully continued by other members of the Randolph family. A tannerywas built and carried on for many years by Charles Shook and sons, in the village of Unity, duty township.

A tannery was established in 1843 at Chamj l>ersburg. West township, by J. D. Koffcl, I which, after many changes in ownership, was j still in operation near the close of the century. A case of single ownership and continued operation throughout its existence of almost a half century by one individual, was that of the tannery of J. A. Riddle. Wellsville. This tannerywas built by Judge Riddle in 183 1. and operated uninterruptedly by him until May 20. 1879, when it was burned. After the fire a j leather store was continued by Judge Riddle, ! and after bis death by his son. Maj. J. F. Ridi die. for many years.

Of the business in the early days of Salem, 1 Hunt's history says: "Tanning was a considerable business in the early days of Salem. John Street was the principal person engaged in the business. His establishment filled nearly one-half the square on the southwest from hU store, bounded by what are now Depot, Dry and Howard streets. There was here a large number of tan-vats, and a house for the dressing of the hides when taken from the vats, and finishing them into various kinds of leather. There was also a mill for grinding tan-bark."

These mills were in the form of a huge coffeemill, the big handle of which was operated by means of a horse l>eintr hitched to it, the animal walking almut in a circle.

But as the tanning business was one of the earliest industries of the county and one of the most essential; ami as the establishment and conducting of the business, at least in a primitive way, involved hut a comparatively small investment of capital, one or more ut these enterprises were usually operated in almost every center of population. A few of them had been continued up to 19x35 ; but most of them had gone out of business many years before this date. One and perhaps the main reason of this was the concentration of capital and the adoption of modern improved appliances in the business. But another reason not to be over looked wis the growing scarcity in convenient 'localities of the chestnut-oak. the black-oak and the other varieties of timber from whose bark the tanning liquid was procured, which was an absolute essential in the tanning process.

The Kirst 1'Ai'Ek Mill Ix Ohio

Columbiana county is entitled to the distinction of having the first paper mill built in Ohi>, and the second west of the Alleghany Mountains. It was built in 1805 or 1806 by John '. Beaver and John Coulter, on Little Beaver Creek, near its mouth, and about three miles northeast of Liverpool. Here the manufacture of writing paper was l>egiin, but the mill-dam lieing washed away by a freshet a few years later, the mill was abandoned.

An Early Cotton Factory

In 18 14 a cotton factory was built off Main street, on what was afterwards known as the Wilson property, in Salem. John Strawn, John Antrim, Zadock Street, Nathan Hunt and others were interested in it. Stacy Hunt being manager. Horse power was used to operate the primitive machinery. The project was not a success, and in less than two years the enterprise was abandoned and the factory building torn down.

During a period of .'5 years, from 1863 to 1888, considerable sorghum was grown in the county, and there were a number of mills for the manufacture of molasses. There is a record of a sorghum mill being built on sectio.i 10. Madison township by Eells, (ie<>rge& Company, and for a number of years molasses in large quantities was produced.

Between the years of 1850 and 1880 there were a number of Max mills operated in the county; but soon after the latter year, the raising of flax in the county having been practically discontinued, the mills of course went out of business.

Ensign's History (1879) says: "In the early settlement of this vicinity (New Libsoii j, and for some 40 years after, whisky ( the real old rye) was a prominent article of manufacture, use and traffic. Twenty-five cents a gallon at retail was long a standing price, and many times it was even cheaper. The early makers of this article were, - George Duck, Erererick Galehouse. John Thomson. Edward Pettit. Benjamin Halm. John Reese, William Jacob and Daniel Harbaugh."

In Elkrun township alone, in 1825, it is recorded that there were no less than eight distilleries. Among others, Messrs. Ward, Armstrong. Means, Montgomery and Freed were engaged in the business.

An old Columbiana County history referring to Fawcettstown (afterwards East Liverpool) says: "The first shingle roof seen in thetown was put upon Robert Boyce's log cabin by 'Old Gauge." a carpenter, whose right name was William Hudson. 'Old Gauge' was a famous character, and the greatest whisky drinker in the county, but never got drunk, could maul 400 rails a day, and was, despite his drinking ways, a man of such steady nerve and industrious habits that there was not so excellent a workman for miles around. Incredible as it may appear, he drank a gallon of whisky every day. so the story goes, taking a pint at a certain hour each day, wherefore he was called 'Old Gauge.' He never made a l«rgain to work for a man without stipulating for the regular supply of whisky, and he always got it. Although he was never known to be drunk while in Hast Liverpool, his early habits told upon him in his old age, which he passed in Virginia. Returning to the subject of distilleries, passing mention may be made that whisky was cheap in the early days, else 'Old Gauge' would have failed on his daily gallon. Besides Kellcy's distillery, there were those of G. D. M-'- Kinnon, James Montgomery, William Baddcrs., Benjamin Black-more, George Hurlburt, Thomas Gaddis, Robert Wallace, John Polk, John Ainsley, Anthony Blackburn and Alexander Young."

Early in the century there were many distilleries in Middleton township. Their capacicy liowever, was not very great, seldom exceeding three bushels of grain per day. The first was put in operation at Achor, about 1808, by Le/i Rogers, and at later periods, among the distillers, were George Brown, Job Russell.

In 184 1 there were in the county 83 gristmills: i(>j sawmills: 7 oil-mills, _> paper-milU; 2 furnaces; 8 air-foundries; 37 tanneries: 0 salt-wells, 2 of which were in operation, turning out 2,800 barrels of salt yearly. The following items were returned for taxation in 1S40: Mercantile capital, $108,849 ; money at interest. 844.205 ; 215 pleasure carriages, valued at 810,443: 8.010 horses, valued at $344.-

The growth of 100 years in manufacturing in the county i« shown in the State Bureau oi Labor's report for 1903, which gives these statistics for the manufacturing establishments of the three principal cities :