Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-03-10

bolts Of cloth ready for the tailor or
Iseamstress. That Gathering noise
was the looms operated by women,
and the machine was throwing the
shuttle back and forth faster than
lyou could say "Jack Robins" Men
and women, half dozen, or more,
were busy at various machines, not
engine room. Across a narrow
1 driveway in front was rather long
/ building and upon entering it look
ed exactly like store room with
shelves and counter, but on the
shelves, instead of candy jars and
| tea canisters, there were bolts of
flannel, nothing but flannel, fam Il
everywhere.
Across, on the opposite hillside,
stands another house, somewhat
pretentious fol-. the time. 1t is
only building now standing. How
ever the barn standing on the late
Jason Tilden farm is the frame Of
the once widely known Bush Wool
: en- MILL Although back in those
times many didn't call it that
"cardin' machine" was almost uni
versally heard. But who started
this enterprise? 1t was not the
probably a1 as little ppeTieus to adn the
year 1910, man, Matthew Bigger,
came into the settlement and OBJ
tanned a little spot of ground from
the Thomas Dye farm in the corner
of Section 80. A little more from
Section 81 was added to this; and
it was this man Mr.. Bigger who
built and operated the wooden mill.
He had some children, sons. and
one of them at least, was born here.
In 1S49 his wife, Elizabeth, died
and is buried in the old Dye ceme-
terry on the hill. eve happen to be
in possession of quite bit of infor-
nation of this enterprising family.
but we will omit it and hurry
along). The following year, 1850,
Mr.. Bigger sold out to Joseph Bush
and moved to Napoleon, Ohio. JOS
eph Bush continued the business
successfully until his death, which
time Of the Civil war. 1t was then
that his two sons, Walter and Will
liam, took over the business and
it still prospered But there came
time within the writer's recollec.
ton when business began to de-
cline; perhaps when reaching the
early 70's. Walter was a very re.
ligious man, and he seemed to feel
that there was even broader field
of usefulness than washing and
cleansing sleeps wool; that mems
souls needed cleansing, and "though
their sins be red like scarlet, they
shall be as wool" Anyway Walter
felt the urge to enter the ministry,
which he did, and continued until
called up higher" while living in
Athens county, William continued
chinery to Beverly, and later in the
sos moved to Caldwell where it
was totally destroyed by fire. The
business was re-estab ablished at Dres-
den, O., where it continued for
many years. Who has not heard Of
Dresden f1annels?
We now leave the wooden mill for
the present and start up the run"
The next minute we are crossing,
stepping stones" in front of one
Of the neatest houses that was ever
home of VIM. Bush. Soon after
ward it was mysteriously destroyed
by fire. We are now on our way up
the "run,' to another industry that
fiourished through a long period Of
time,-the Dickinson Touring mill.
We pass several houses going the
distance of about a mile, notably
the home of Ezekiel ]. Dye, better
known as Squire who not only
tered justice to all violators of the
law who came before him in his
court. He was one of the many
"Zekes" in the big Dye family. In
rounding a gradual curve along the
steep hillside near the Luther STAN
bury home, our ears catch the low
monotonous drone Of the burrs and
we see the black smoke issuing from
the tall stack. The exhaust steams
seem to be putting out of big horn
pointed right at us. Oh! Oh! Clap
your hands over your ears! Such