From the New Lisbon (o.) Patriot
A Tariff for Protection-Prosperity of the Iron Industry
The daily morning post-July 23, 1849
We invite the special attention of candid men of all parties to the following letter written by the Hon. Andrew Dempsey, of Hanging Rock, Lawrence County, Ohio, and published in the “Genius of Liberty,” printed at Uniontown, Fayette county, Pa. The facts it sets forth show the high state of prosperity enjoyed by the Iron interest during the very period that party clamor was loudest in demanding “more protection.”
It is to be borne in mind that this letter is the voluntary testimony of a man who has been largely interested in the Iron business and is therefore entitled to an impartial hearing. According to the “Genius,” Judge Dempsey, at the time of retiring from the Iron business, had amassed over one hundred thousand dollars in the course of fifteen or eighteen years; and it is a man who has thus prospered that writes as follows:
Hanging Rock, Lawrence County, Ohio
April 16, 1849
Dear Sir:-Having has been raised in your county, I deem it no intrusion on your time to give you some concise information of some men and boys who left Fayette county several years ago and settled in this Iron Ore county of Ohio and of whom at this date after a lapse of seven to sixteen years-you and their other friends, many have lost sight of and of whose whereabouts you may be ignorant.
I shall begin with Robert Hamilton, a bashful, timid lad, who was certainly the longest in getting to be a man of almost any boy I ever knew. He removed to this county some 18 years ago, with scarcely any means, and commenced, with two partners, in the blast Furnace business. At this time, he is a highly respectable man, worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He has the credit of having started several young men in business, who had previously worked in his employ, all of whom are doing well. I shall continue my sketch with
Robert B. Hamilton came to this county some years later and began as a keeper of a Furnace Store, of which he was afterward Clerk and Manager. He is now worth not less than seventy-five thousand dollars.
James Rochey came here at a still later period and while quite young. In a few years, he has made from twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars and is yet making money fast.
After him came George, Samuel, and William Wurtz, bringing with them good business qualifications by no money or property. They are now worth, on average, thirty thousand dollars each and continue to roll their balls very rapidly-indeed. I may say they are just beginning to make money.
John Culbertson, who reached here “not worth the powder that would blow him up,” finds himself, after a few years of close application, with thirty to thirty-five thousand dollars and is now going ahead like a railroad car.
Then followed John Peters, whom I knew well when I was 12. He was unquestionably the idlest, if not lazy, a stripling of that age, of whom I had any former knowledge. Becoming an active businessman or a good working man seemed hopeless. But he, too, in a few short years, has also realized a fortune of forty thousand dollars in this region of industry and thrift and is still adding dollar to dollar daily.
Each of the above-named individuals is from the vicinity of Connellsville, [Pa] in your county [Fayette]. More worthy and respectable gentlemen cannot be found anywhere, leaving religion out of the calculation. Some of their numbers even hope that they have obtained true riches-“the pearl of great price”-and that they are really and truly Christians.
On this point, however, some may have doubts. They may look upon a business table, where competence and even a dazzling fortune are acquired in so short a period, as little better than a gaming table and as inconsistent with genuine vital piety. Still, without pretending to go into an argument on the subject, it is, perhaps, possible.
With great confidence, I may express the opinion that all the persons mentioned earlier would have continued to be poor had they remained at their homes in your county instead of following the star of fortune that led them here. The writer of this labored in Fayette county for 24 years and then left it as a poor man.
Many men from other parts of the country than Fayette have done as well, and some even better than those alluded to. However, I will mention one instance of the success of those unknown to your citizens.
Mr. John Campbell came to this county some 16 years ago without means; indeed, many, looking through the corner of one eye only, said he was too soft, too green, ever to succeed in the Ion business. Still, all who said or thought so have been most agreeably mistaken. He has exhibited more forecast and energy than any other Iron man here and now stands at the head of the Iron business in this region.
He has an annual income of at least $20,000 and a character for liberality and respectability as high as any other gentleman in this country, with all at home or abroad who knew him well. Although he must now be well worth over $200,000, he may be said to be only beginning to make money.
Yours,
Andrew Dempsey
I. R. Jan. 20, 1887 – John B. Hastings has been visiting A. T. Dempsey, Washington, C. H.
I. R. Aug. 9, 1888 – The Death Roll – Mrs. Eliza A. Dempsey, widow of S. W. Dempsey, whose serious illness was noted last week, passed peacefully away last Saturday night and was buried Tuesday, the services being conducted by Rev. Burns, pastor of Wesley Chapel, of which she was an earnest and devoted member, and attended by the large family connection and circle of friends. The deceased was 73 years of age. She was a native of Maryland, was raised in Virginia, came to Ohio when a young woman, and was a resident of this county for 32 years preceding her death.
I. R. Aug. 9, 1888 – While A. T. Dempsey was here last week at the bedside of his stepmother, he received word of the serious illness of his young child, a daughter about four months old, and returning to Washington C. H. he found the baby dying. The remains were brought here for burial.
I. R. July 16, 1891 – Andrew Dempsey is from Cincinnati. He is an assistant bookkeeper in a large china and glassware establishment. He has grown tall and handsome and seems happily situated there.
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