Ohio Iron and Coal Company organized 1849

Ironton Register May 26, 1859

Researched by Sharon M. Kouns

The Ohio Iron and Coal Company - the Company which received its charter from the Ohio Legislature early in the year 1849 -the Company which laid out and established the town of Ironton now ten years ago - had a meeting of its stockholders recently, and voted to wind up its business as speedily as consistent with the interests involved, and to dissolve.

The Company was organized with twenty-four members. Eleven of the number have gone to their “final account” - Andrew Dempsey, Henry S. Willard, George Steece, Henry Blake, Joseph W. Dempsey, Washington Irwin, James W. Means, James A. Richey, James O. Willard, John E. Clarke and Robert B. Hamilton. Two have disposed of their stock - Smith Ashcraft and Henry C. Rodgers. This leaves the Company to consist at present of eleven members, and the representatives of eleven estates.

The property of the Company is to be sold as soon as it can well be done; and we learn that the large tract of land - the old LaGrange Furnace lands - extending some five or six miles north of town to the neighborhood of the Tunnel on the Iron Railroad is now being surveyed, and divided into tracts convenient for sale.

This will throw a large amount of valuable land into market- some of it valuable for small farms and gardening, being near a very high market, and most of it very valuable for its stone coal, and some of it, perhaps, for its iron ore, which abounds. Also there will be for sale, and to be sold, many town lots. A public sale of part of LaGrange lands, and of town lots to be in next October.

We cannot now, for want of time and space, speak of the effect these movements upon the town and country about - this we reserve for the future.

One point, however, greatly concerns the interest of the town, in this change of affairs, that is, the River Wharf. This still is owned by the Company, which has never yet collected any wharfage from boats or the public, unless the wharfboat has paid a rent. - The amount of some $3,000 has been expended by the Company on the wharf, and it is still in an unfinished condition, in any part.

Now if the thing is possible, on any reasonable considerations, the town ought to have complete possession and ownership of the wharf. Can it not be accomplished? This is a matter in which every citizen is interested. Let it be considered.