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Were Iron Workers

Were Iron Workers image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
October
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Lisbon, O., Oct. 3.- The early history of the McKinley. family is largely interwoven. with the history of this Httle city. A smal! bvick building, howing plainly the nttrition of the elemente during the past ninety years, is standing on Water Btreet, iirar Market, where David McKialey, the greatrgrandfather of the presidential candidate, taught ilmost the first school that was organized in the then frontier villase. Les8 than a raile up the creek, northwest of town, stands all that remains of what was haps the first iron furnace ever erected west of the Alleghany mountains. This was known as the McKinley furnace and came into existonce in 1807, but iron had been manufacturad here as early as 1804 by Hughes & McKinley, the furnace first being ealled the "Rebecca" and afterwaïds the McKinley. The principal product about that time, aaide from plow shares, kettles, etc, was a htlge 10-plate cook stovo. as large almost as a modern range, and it was quite popular tliroughont this section of the country. Some hearing the name "Rebecca, of New Lisbon," are still in existence, but are not doing service. A few years after this furnace was put in operation Jlr. Hughes, encouraged by the scarcity and consequent high pricea of nails, rods and other wrought iron products in the settlement, eonceiyed the idea of establishing a rolling mili aud nail faetory in connection with the furnace. This project was earried into effect, the motive power for both factories being water, and the location of the massive over-shot wheel may still be seen in the bed of the creek. The latter venture proved to be too heavy a burden for Hughes' resources, and in a few years it was abandoned. The furnace, however, was more profitable. It was operated alone for some time by Mr. Hughes, but he becarae financially embarrassed and the plant was purehased by James McKinley, grandfather of Maj. McKinley, who conducted it for a short time and was sueceeded by his son William, father of l.he presidential candidate. Both these McKinleys were nced. practical iron workers, and for a time wei successful in thoir ventare, but improved methods, with whicb they , could not compete, reudered it unprufitaule, and abont sixty-h've years ago it was abandoned and the MeKinleys removed to Niles (then known as Mosquito Creek), where they engaged in iron work. Afterward, it is said, William ifcKiriley, the father of the major, engaged for a short time in the mercantile biisinss at the hamlet of East Fairfield, located sbout seven miles nortbeast of this city. Quaint Old Houses. It is not alone, however, through his paternal progenitors tbat the early history of the family of McKlnley is connected with Lisbon. Ou East Walnut streef, in the midst of the fine residences and spacious, well-kept grounda thüt mark the homes of the well-to-do citizens, there stands i littlë, neat, but unpretentiou dwelling, originally constructed of logs and afterward weatherboarded, giviug it au appearance that doubtlese at one time made it conspicuoua. This building was erected in 1808, and therein, u year aftcrward, was bom Nancy Allison,wbo married William McKinley and became tin; mother of the soldier and statesman, whom the American people are about to placs ia the fcighest office within tiieir sift. A few rods distaat from the furnace is another welling, Which is of great interesi do, :is it W&a 1 home of the eider McKinley duiíng his proprietorshli) of the furmic; Hotli house and furnace are antique ïnd picturesque. "Neddy' Broushton aow oecupies the house aud s one of the pioneers of the state. The Oíd Burytng Gronnd. The first rpguhirl.y luid out cemetery in Colutnbiaua county was locajted less (hun Imli a mile soutli of the city, beyond the créek. The first interments wen' iIutc made s eurly as the fall of 1S03, and nlthough it has long since Vieen abnudoned, muny of the pioneers of Lisbon found thereln a final resting place. There are, perhapa, hunireds oí the present residenta wno nevcr heard of tne bui'ial ground, and many othera whti have never scén it. Neyertheless, it is a pleasánt spot to visit in endeavoring to conjure np the incinories of the early pioneen. Here, uuder a modest headstone, réBt thé mortal remains of William Allison. the maternal grandfather of Ma.i. McKinley, whona we ure ini'omu'd by the partiftlly obliterated insoription ou the stone died July 29, 1827. Maj. MeKinley has a mimber of relatives iu Lisbon, through the Allisons. Ambng these is Di'. Williani Moore. first :i of the preaidential candidate, who. although he has lived beyond the allotted span of life, has a remarkably eleár njemory of the events of the far past. To him are the readers of the World largely Indebted for the facts in this sketch of the early history of the McKinley family, so far as it is conaected with tho little city of Lis'ion. The pictures hière oreseated of the oíd mili aud house are from photographs taken by Lemucl H. Johnson, and kindly loaned to the World for reproduction..

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier