The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-10-07
Random ThOughts---NO. 80.
By TIE EDITOR,


Jackson Furnace on Thursday night,
I concluded to go by the way of Bloom
Furnace, and visit my relatives and
friends at that place.
In passing Portland l noticed
that much Improvement was going on
there. A new brick church is being
put up in the north part of Portland, on
the east side of the railroad, by the
Methodist Episcopal congregation.
John j Jones Esq. is putting up We
ry large brick residence on the hill a
short distance east of Portland, towards
Oak Hill, and on part of the old Reed
farm. 1t will be one of the finest resi-
dences in the county, and is most beau
tifully located. Davis &c Perkins have e
a new building for their photograph
gallery, near the Faulkner House. And
there are many other improvements
going on in the place.
At Bloom Switch our friends had a
horse and buggy to take us (myself,
wife and daughter,) out to the furnace.
After dinner / walked out upon the
hills where / cut cord wood thirty five
years ago. ! have often thought that
no man has a more retentive memory
than / have. About thirty three years
ago saw a tombstone leaning against
the office at the furnace, and yet re-
membered the inscription upon it ]
l went past the grave yard upon the
hill, short distance northeast of the
furnace, and saw the same stone. This
is the inscription:
"In Memory of Calphurnia, daugh-
ter of Allaniah and Nancy Cole, who
departed this life March 20, 1885, aged
years, 1 month and 26 days"
On another stone is this inscriptions
"In memory of Elizabeth S. Murfn,
wife of James Murfn, Born Dec. 7,
1898, Died Jan. 81, ,1S47,aged "a years,
l month and 81 days"
In the early summer of Ia42, a short
time before l was married, attended
a two days meeting at Bloom, and
Rev. Mr.. Mu rphy and Rev. Charles
Ferguson we're the ministers. Mr.
Murfn and his wife were at this meet
ing. She was his second wife, and
they had been but recently married
She was a beautiful young lady, and
as the above figures will show, not yet
10 years of age. Mr.. Murfin was then,
l think, manager Of the furnace. There
was a general temperance excitement
then over the country, and Murfn cir
culated the temperance pledge among
the congregation, himself being the
first to sign it. Mr. Murfn, as we'll as
his wife, has been dead many years.
At this grave yard is buried Mr.. AL
laniah Cole, whose family yet reside
at the furnace, and own it. His moth
er-in-law, Mrs. Steece, is also buried
here, and also Mrs. Hawkes., his daugh-
ter, who died in Chicago last spring
Also, Jacob Steece, and perhaps other
members of the family.
A new engine has been put up al
Bloom, in new and most substantial
engine house. The we'll bored there
three years ago, 300 feet deep, furnish
es an abundance of gas to light up the
furnace.
Mr.. John PAUL, the principal owner
of the furnace, was absent, at a
furnace in Kentucky, in which he owns
an interest. He is one of the most ex-
perienced furnacemen in the State, and
is deservedly popular with all the men
about the furnace.
In the afternoon Mrs, Cole told me
that the men about the furnace would
like to have me make speech at night
But the notice was so short that de-
clined.
On Thursday morning went in {
buggy to Webster, where called tC
see DR.. A. L. Wood, He has had con
sumption for several years, and is now
confined to his bed. He told me that
he had been expecting death any day
since last March
/ walked over to Jackson Furnace,
and intended to continue on Mabees,
but at the Furnace my good friend L.
p. N. Smith, owner of the Furnace had
me to stop for dinner, and then furnish,
ed me his pony, johnny Smoker
to ride to Mabses. Ialways / feel at
home with the excellent family of Mr..
Smith, and always stop there when at
the Furnace. | must mention my
friend Miss Lilias, the little six year
old daughter of Mr.. Smith. She is a
good friend Of mine, and sweet child.
She claims the STANDARD as her paper.
orv;,,oA a, M.L.k - I H.. -