Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-01-27
Lr.tnr From Chic.
events.
MOUNT VERNON, ONO, !
January 16, 1872. {

EDIToRs OF THE FRoSTBURG MINING
JoURNAL,-Esar.S irS Il have been think
ing for some time past that it would be
pleasant, and even profitable, to spend a
few moments in committing to writing a
few thoughts that come upon me in my
hours of leisure, reminding me of friends
distant among the mountains of dear Old
Maryland, -best home of my father
scene of my carly sports. How lively our
Imagination when We but conduct it in the
channel Of things we love The faces of
dear ones come up before us; and SO famil-
iar they look, that we almost speak to
them Then the forms of those proud old
mountains that hug so closely around your
little city, as if to protect it from the freez-
ing blasts of winter. These are the
thoughts that crowd upon me and make
me feel like the prodig;.l of old. All, !
sigh in vain for those good old days, when
used to plump marbles with the dirty
little boss in the street, with the elbows of
my pedal cxtremitics peeping through
their tattcrcd windows, as if to get a look
at til" outer world. Then the seesaw
rides across the school-fouse fence with
the rirls Then WAS the fun,-but where
is it now? Gone like the airy fabric of a
noon-day rcvcrie Then why contemplate?
Now, | will turn my thoughts to things
profitable. Since have been i'll this little
citv have gathered the following facts in
relation to It's foundation and progress,
which perhaps may be of interest to you
and Your readers. Mount Vernon, the
seat of Knox county, is pleasantly situated
on ground gently rising from the north or
left bank of Mt Vernon or Kokosing river.
II lies 8! miles south Of Ssnd',sky, and 80
north of Newark Knox county is one OF
the l!calthi,st and richest in the state, and
large quantities of produce find here their
only market Mt. Vernon, besides being
well located for trade, is one of the most
beautiful towns in Central Ohio. The
streets cross each other at right angles, and
in every quarter of the city elegant man
sions present themselves to view, surroun-
dcd by tall Shade trees and thick foliage,
making this an exceedingly pleasant place
of residence Mt Vernon was laid out in
1868 by THOMAS b. PATTERSON, JOSEPH
WALKER and BENJAMIN BUTLER. The
county Of Knox was originally settled by
rnigrants from Virginia, Maryland, Penn
sylvania and New Jersey, with few from
New England. The fist white settler in
Mt. Vernon was ANDREW CRAIG, who
lived near TIE point where Center Run
flows into the kokosng. In the spring OF
1861, GILMAN BRYANT opened the first
stone in 1t rmall sycamore cabin in the west
art of tie town. The first frame build
ing was PIT up in 1909 This year the
At comfy sca, was located Mt Vernon by
the following commissioners: JAMES ARM
STRONG, JAMES DUNLAP and ISAAC COOK.
A brick courthouse, 80 feet square and
two stories high, was built in 1910. The
first court was htld in 1868. A log jail
Was also built this year, and another ana
more substantial one was built in 1923,
which stood till 1850, when il was torn
down 70 give place to more commodious
Oae.
Upon ti.c organization of the county
there was sriri, Of rivalry az to which
should he the county seat, Mt. Vernon or
Clinton, a town laid out q mile and half
north by SAMUEL SMIrE, then place OF
greater population. The commissioners
,upoI,ed to locate tie seat of justice first
entered DIT. Vernon. and We're received
with the fscft cheer at the log tavern OF
NJ, Y.lY.E, 10 in.sesa then with al .d,a