LaGrange Furnace – Upper Tp. – Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1836
Blowout: 1856
By: Hurd, Gould & Co.
Researched by Sharon M. Kouns and Martha J. Martin
William Dollarhide Kelly leased LaGrange Furnace from 1851-1854 and made considerable money in this venture.
Per J.P. Lesley, the charcoal furnace was owned by the Ohio Iron and Coal Co., John Campbell President. In 1854 the furnace produced 1,000 tons of iron out of lower coal measure limestone ore mixed with some block ore. The furnace was abandoned in 1856 for want of timber.
Location: North on Route 93 from Ironton, Ohio turn left on County Road 21, the furnace will be on the left side.
This bridge used to cross over Storms Creek, it was near the furnace and the Ironton Rolling Mill. Storms Creek was later re-routed for the construction of the flood wall.
IR Sept. 13, 1860 – Henry Partlow, who has been living at or near La Grange Furnace, in this township, for several years past, is to be the Superintendent of the Lawrence County Infirmary for a year from October 1, 1860.
Ohio Iron and Coal Company
IR May 26, 1859 – 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 the 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 are to be in next October.
We cannot now, for want of time and space, speak of the effect these movements have upon the town and country – 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 wharf age from boats or the public, unless the wharf boat has paid 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.
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