Henry Horn Recalls Early Ironton

IRONTON “NONAGENARIAN” HENRY C. HORN VIVIDLY RECALLS THE DAYS
BY: Min Grimes Staff Writer.

Submitted by Edith Fields for The Lawrence Register
No Source Given

When Henry C. Horn observes his ninetieth birthday on Sept. 2, 1976, his family and friends will join him. If not in person, in kind thoughts and prayers of thankfulness that he has achieved this special day.

“I’ve had a good life and until recent months my health has been good. I’m pretty fair now and improving but I can’t garden and do the odd jobs I have always done. I attribute my long life to clean living.” the gentle Henry Horn said.

After a “pinch” of Red Horse tobacco placed in his jaw, Mr. Horn smiled and displayed the three-ounce packet of Red Horse. He remarked, “Just to show you one little change in prices, this packet used to cost me a nickel, but now it is 38 cents, quite a boost in price.” He also noted the increasing cost of all items and how little the dollar buys today.

Mr. Horn spoke of high taxes. He said he understood that property had to pay its way but not all of the ‘way’ and expressed pride that owners of property in town are attempting to keep it in good repair although costs are high. Ironton is a wonderful town, and I hope it will gain new strength and grow, which seems to be coming to our area.

Henry Horn is a “history book on legs.” His ability to remember Ironton’s early years makes him an outstanding conversationalist. His knowledge is regularly sought by people who want the facts about the city’s yesteryears. Recollections of his youth and his associates of many years ago reveal that his mind is almost photographic, and his alertness about people and places of the past is more than remarkable. Intermingles with intelligent conversation is a jolly disposition and humor that is most refreshing. The years of the late 1800s and early 1900s are very clear to him, and he also brings you up to date on many happenings of the immediate past as well as today’s doing.

Henry C. Horn’s grandfather, Henry C. Horn (the first) came to the United States from Germany at the age of 16 years. He worked in New York as a butcher, saving his money, then located at Wheeling, W.V. Not long after his arrival, a smallpox epidemic broke out, and the Horn family left Wheeling to locate in Ironton where other cousins were living. They moved to Ironton about 1853. Mr. Horn said, and his grandfather bought one-fourth of a block of land on Lawrence Street bordered by Rachel Creek. Here, he began anew in the butcher business.

Rachel Creek was open, and trash and debris were floating in the creek, which began in the South end of town, about the Ensinger property, and ran through Ironton into the Ohio River. Wooden bridges were built to accommodate pedestrian and horse and wagon traffic across to the flat (apartment) that the Horn family occupied and where the grandparent’s parents and children lived. “Everyone helped everyone else in those days, and things were easier for all,” Horn said with a sigh. He realizes that selfishness and greed in high places, such as Washington, have also taken hold at the state and community levels. He learns because he reads and studies much of his time while relaxing at home. “Eyeglasses are used only for my reading,” he said.

The Horn home, at 605 Lawrence Street, was built in 1857. The Horns moved into the property 84 years ago, buying the front porch kitchen, and porch at the rear are the only additions to the home by the Horn family. He recalled the 1918-19 influenza epidemic which struck his mother, brother, and two sisters. He successfully averted getting the flu and nursed them to health again. 

Henry Horn, whose birthday is observed this week, has never been an idle man. His father died when he was 44, and the children who could find jobs went to work. He and his brother Albert took over as much as they could, quitting school to do so. However, as Mr. Horn was writing a letter to a relative last week at the square dining room table where he has paper and magazines galore, his penmanship was excellent. “I make notes for my letters so I won’t forget to report things,” he said.

There were four Horn children born to Henry C. Horn II and to his wife Minnie Caroline Jacob: Albert, who died in 1955; Florence, who died in 1970; and Lillian, who died in 1975. Henry C. (the third) continues his residence at the old home which is full of memories. None of the children were married. He is never idle although activity is limited since a recent illness. He has cut 25 boxes of kindling for heating and cooking in two old Foster stoves. Henry cut the kindling from old telephone poles.

Each winter the big ornate potbellied iron stove “Foster’s Air Tight” warms the home. It is in fine shape and very decorative in design. It stands on four carved legs in the dining room.  The kitchen at the home has another excellent antique which is named on its front “Foster” for the old Foster Stove Compay, which was once a main industry here.

The kitchen range is a relic. It has two separate heating units. There are two gas ovens across the top of the range and a coal oven across the bottom. In between the two sets of ovens are the cooking burners which will serve both gas and coal use with little change. Of course, natural gas is the major source of cooking heat because it is easier, but Henry’s mother and sisters used coal ovens and coal burners for many years. The stove, blue with chrome trim and well cared for is one of the many fine-manufactured items from Ironton’s past industrial scene. It lives on, usefully, to give service and pleasure to its owner, whose care has been constant.

The doings of the kitchen with the unique cooking range are in the capable hands of Mrs. Carl Jacob (Cleo Falls), who is the wife of Henry Horn’s first cousin, Carl Jacob. Cleo watches over the house, prepares the meals, and is a gracious hostess to visitors. “I don’t know what I would do without Cleo. Her patience and kindness have been a great help to me. I appreciate her more than I can say. Carl, too, is a wonderful help, and he’s taken over the gardening since I’m unable to do this work. People working together makes for a better life and a better for all.”

Mr. Horn commented after learning that Bernie Smith’s property at Third and Railroad was being razed. Mr. Horn recalled he was a boy of 12 or 13 years he would visit a butcher shop at that site which was owned and operated by Morgie Watts.

He remembers a high board fence at 6th and Lawrence Streets, and it was here that chicken fights were held on Sunday afternoons and attended by men of the city. The lovely brick residence, known to many as the former McConnell home, was built, he said, by a Mr Bothwell who was a supervisor at Belfont Nail Mill. Boys and young men worked as nail nippers at the mill, and Mr. Bothwell was in charge. The tonnage the men “nipped” into different-sized nails generated more salary for the supervisor. Some day, he would make $25-30 dollars, and the “nail-nippers” were paid 75 cents per day, Mr Horn said

Mr. Horn took his first job in 1902 at the age of 16 years. He was employed by Lou and August Fillgrove and Charlie Horn, who owned and operated Fillgrove Bros. and Co., manufacturers of “dripping pans,” later known as bread pans, used for bread and candy. The old type pans had wire support on the sides and wire handles and the candy pans were of bright tin.

After three years, the company sold out, and Mr. Horn went to work as a tinner with his uncle, Lou Fillgrove, who taught Henry the trade. Later he worked with C. F. Miller, also a tinner, and then joined Southern Wheel Co. with Henry Ruddmann in 1913. In 1918, the business closed, and Henry Horn went with the Ironton Engine Company, riding his bicycle to work daily.

Several families of the city, the Campbells, the Clarks, the Kelly family, and others hired Henry to drive their cattle to pastures on Cronacher Hill, Moulton Field, and other nearby points. Taking them out each morning and bringing them back at night. The families sold milk, butter, smearcase (cottage cheese ), and buttermilk, which was home-churned and very delicious.

A garage at the rear of the house, where Henry works when he feels able to do odd jobs, once housed the 1929 Essex Super Six automobile. This was the first model built with 18.2 horsepower. The car was sold a few years ago to an antique auto buff from San Francisco and to this day I have never heard from him. Mr. Horn commented. “I wonder what happened to the family car, but suppose we will never know now.” he said with a glint of regret in his eyes.”

A collection of old books and current magazines provides him with reading materials and he enjoys three meals a day. “I have quite a tremendous appetite,” he said with a laugh as he pulled at his blue cotton work shirt and dark trousers to accentuate his thin frame.

Happy Birthday, Henry C. Horn! May he have many more “special days” because he is a very special man of integrity, good character, and intelligence. His humor, sincerity, and kindly attitude bring many friends to his door, where a cordial welcome always awaits them.