Author: Carrie Eldridge
This book documents the final years of Etna Iron Works in Lawrence County, Ohio, through a company ledger covering 1876–1878, when the furnace was nearing closure.
The ledger records company expenses and financial transactions, including the names of employees, their occupations, and wages.
Furnace workers lived in a company-owned community, much like the coal towns that later developed throughout Appalachia. These communities provided essential services, while workers were often paid in company scrip that could be used only at the company store.
Because residents had limited contact with surrounding communities, some may have been overlooked in census records. This ledger offers genealogists an opportunity to discover Lawrence County residents who may be difficult to locate in other historical sources.
Beyond its genealogical value, the book provides insight into daily life and working conditions in the early Ohio Valley iron industry.
Additional features include a map, reproductions of Etna company scrip and newspaper advertisements, and an index of employee surnames.
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