CHAPTER XII
THE STONE AND LIME INDUSTRIES
BY GEORGE B. CHRISTIAN, SR.
Marion County, deprived of any participation in the general wealth derived from the rich mineral resources that add so much to the industrial prosperity of our State, has found in its great limestone quarries and manufactures a considerable aid to our steadily increasing industrial wealth.
The singular geological formation affords an interesting study not only to the scientist but to the practical every-day manufacturer. Almost exactly central, in a line running north and south through the county, is found the great outcropping. strata of limestone extending from about Columbus to Lake Erie and westwardly, to the Indiana line, while to the east are found the great beds of shale and below them the freestone that finds its apex in this region. Singularly enough the great Niagara measure of limestone, found outcropping at Niagara Falls, is readily located in the northwestern portion of our county. To the westward may be found underlying layers that are known as containing the proper elements for the manufacture of hydraulic cement. While limestone is found underlying the western half of the county, it must be understood that only where it outcrops and extends east to indicate a nearer approach to the surface ,can this stone be made commercially valuable.
It can be readily noted that the stone quarries, especially those near the capital of the county, would be opened coincident with the first settlement of this region. Early pioneers Ballentine, Allen, Peters, Bartram, Baker and others-seeking for their domestic water supply by excavating wells, at once discovered the valuable limestone measures. The early buildings in the city of Marion were placed upon foundations of native limestone. Lime was burned in the most primitive form by throwing the stone upon log heaps. In this way our people early became acquainted with the location and characteristics of the valuable strata of stone that to-day have proven to be so commercially important. Remains of the most primitive lime kilns may still be found at the outcrop of the lime formation along the forks of the Little Scioto.
Probably the first stone quarried in the county by any one as a business was that taken out by Josiah S. Copeland, about the year 1839, although stone had been taken out of the ground for private uses before that date. Mr. Copeland, who was a resident of Zanesville, Ohio, purchased from Alexander Holmes and William Holmes about 320 acres of land, now the northeast corner of the city of Marion. While he still resided at Zanesville, he came up here with a force of men and opened a quarry just east of State street, and north of George street. The quarry is now filled up, and the ground is now owned by
166 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
C. H. Norris and Mrs. J. M. Christian. Mr. Copeland also burned lime at this quarry, and sold both building stone and lime. He subsequently opened another quarry at the place now occupied by the crossing of Park and Mark streets. He employed quite a number of workmen, generally Germans, who had recently arrived from the "Fatherland." Many interesting tales are told of Mr. Copeland's endeavors to make the Germans understand the English language.
Extensive quarries are found at Owen Station, where John Owen, preceded for a short time by the late James Coffey, began operations in the early '60's. He opened the quarries now so extensively operated at Owen Station, which resulted in the building up of the town of that name. At Marion are found the quarries of The Norris & Christian Stone & Lime Company, John Evans Stone & Lime Company, Central Ohio Stone & Lime Company, Hamilton Stone & Lime Company, the Fairbanks quarries and the Lawrence quarries. Within the past two decades a great advancement has been made in the manufacture of quarry products. So extensive are the operations in this respect that, approximately, during the year 1906 the total output in this county, of the valuable products are estimated to have equaled two million bushels of lime, of which nearly one-half was shipped in packages which of themselves form an important industry in their manufacture. Stone products will total an Output of 500,000 tons. The total value of this product in its entirety, it is estimated, will aggregate $500,000. This industry, in Marion County, gives employment to from 40 to 850 men, according to the season. It is estimated that the quarry industries maintain a population of nearly, if not quite, 3,500 souls, and employ a capital of
$1,000,000.
The quarries are now shipping regular amounts of fluxing limestone to furnaces in the southern part of the State. There is a constant demand for this valuable product in the manufacture of iron and steel. Railroad ballast, crushed stone for improved roads, sized stone for concrete, are shipped in every direction. Marion lime is sent into 12 different States of the Union and is frequently marketed at seaboard points.
The first developments in Marion of any importance were the Peters and Copeland quarries. Nathan Peters early developed blue stone quarries of great value upon the property now owned by Brightman Durfee. These quarries are the basis of the artificial lake now being constructed by Messrs. King and Durfee for the beautification of the grounds in that locality.
The great quarries northwest of Marion were opened up by the construction of the Hocking Valley Railway in 1877. The first quarry opening was made by a company organized by Squire Payne. This quarry was afterwards purchased and improved by the late John Evans. The Smith quarries were opened in 1879 east of the Evans quarries by the late George E. Smith. These quarries are now incorporated with the holdings of the John Evans Lime & Stone Company. Messrs. Norris and Christian opened up their west quarry in 1882. Afterwards a portion of the land of Edmund Conley and Ezra Campbell was added and the company of to-day was formed. Other companies of more recent formation are increasing the development of the industry.
We may in conclusion say that the geological experts of the State look upon our resources in limestone as unexampled in the variety of commercially valuable products, and consider that the industry is yet in its infancy and one of great promise for the future.