The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-08-28
PIONEER SKETCHES.


The Footprints OF Time.
EDIr( DEMoCHATIc PRESS: The uncover
| ing of several tan vats In excavating for Martin
0retzineer's cellar lot 32, Chestnut st.. calls oui
conflicting opinions from Oldest citizens as to
dates and ownership of the first tannery built In
Ravenna, which demonstrates the uncertainty oi
human recollections, and the unrcisbility of ira.
ditional history.
Among the owners Of the exhnmed tannery il
the name Of Jesse r. Grant, father OF one If the
mOet conspicuous of living men. Its history viii
be theme Of speculation and inquiry by future
generations % by the pres mt.
To gratifY this curiosity has induced the writer
to prepare the following brief sketch. made from
the statements in person ofJ. Wels and J. R.
Grant, two owners Of the tannery in question and
such Cord evidence rs 10 now obtainable.
In the epring Of 1910. Jared Mason. from Beaver
Beaver county, Pa. came to Ravenna with his
w1fs and four children, purchased of the Tappane
two eiehta lots north Of the canal and lots 81
3e and IS Chestnut street. and 10. 80 fronting on
Main. Mr Mason sunk hls vats and started q tan
merry on lot 50. and engaged In tanning aud boo,
and shoe manufacturing. he built the house on
Main street. % long the residences of Hon. Seth
Day. now standing back Of Mechanics block. Being
thorouRh-9oing, easerprising man. he soon laid
the foundation for prosperous and lucrative busi-
nees. samuel Mason. f0r twenty years one Of the
promiaent business men Of Ravsnns, was . son OF
Jared Mason, and the oldest citizen the Old town
plat ct the time Of his death, Aue. 90, 1854
Dec. 20sh. ls1s. Jared Macon died quite Suddenly.
and was one Of the few buried in the old yard
where VIM. Holcomb's house now stands
Aug. ID, 1916. John 2. Wells married Jared Ma
sons widow and came into possession OF the tam
nery. which he enlarged, extending II on to lot 3
The aneestoss Of Gen. Grant were welI-knowu
inhabitants Of Windsor, ToIlApd and Coventry,
Conn. Caps. Noah Giant. the grandfather Of the
war. A. its conclusion heemlgrated hon Covsn-
try. Conn.,. to wsstoerslana county, Pa, where
on Jan. -. 17ol. Jesse Root Grant WAS born.
Early in the nineteenth century Capt Noah
Grant. iather Of Jesse r. Grant, removed from
Wsetmoreland county. Pa, and settled in Deer
neld, Portage county, Ohio, where he died In 1905
leaving the Son Jesse thesless at eleven years OF
aae. asf @zs
After his fathef's deatA Jesse b. went 70 Marys.
vile. Ky.. and served an apprenticeship With his
halfbrothee as the tanners and curriers' trade,
Hia hostility 70 Ne Institution Of slavery was the
reason which ineaeed him to lsave Ky, In 1871,
when he came to RAvenna and bought an interest
with John =. Wells In the fannery on the now
0sstxlpgss loss. Wells and Grant continued the
partnazship Eoe . time when the former sold sut
his interest to Grant. who continued the business
until lels, when he cold the property back to Well
and len Ravenna-
After wandering about for . time, In 1870 he Set
tied ct Point Pleasant, Ciermont county, Ohio
where. june -. lsa1. At the mature age Of twenty
seven. he married Miss HaDnah Simpson. and on
the 37th Of April 1a3s, in an humble dwelling nea.
the mouth Of the Miami. On the northern hank o
tha Ohio. Hinm Ulysses Q. Grant nzst eaw the
hight. AID his baby walks were no doubt bounded
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