THE PALMER STONE QUARRY - In
the year 1874 Mr. Davis Johnson of Van Wert, having in charge
certain lands belonging to the Misses Palmer, was having a
ditch dug through section No. 4, Ridge township, and at a depth of
three feet encountered stone, which, upon investigation, proved to
be limestone, and, as at that time there was no stone quarry in Van
Wert county, he proceeded to prospect around a little and found a
spot close by, where the stone was only two feet from the surface.
Miss ZAIDE PALMER at that time lived in
San Francisco, Cal., and Mr. Johnson wrote to her the
particulars of his discovery, and suggested that she come to Van
Wert and consider the matter of opening a stone quarry.
Miss Palmer, being of a rather enterprising nature and
possessing good business ability, answered Mr. Johnson that
she would come to Van Wert and investigate. Circumstances
interfered, however, at this time, that delayed her coming east
until the summer of 1875. When Miss Palmer arrived she
quickly came to a decision in the matter, and in a short time made
all preparations for opening a quarry. Ridge township, north
of Ridge road, was then known as the North woods, there being but a
comparatively small amount of land cleared for farming, and in such
a flat, marshy, ground, with few ditches, no tiling, and almost
impassable roads for six months in the year, it seems, at this day,
as if it must have been a discouraging venture, but Miss Palmer
was one who found difficulties only to overcome them. Van Wert
villiage being the principal market, she soon found that, to
promptly fill the contracts for building stone, she must have a
different method of transportation than hauling over the mud roads.
She therefore quickly arranged for a right of way to build a tramway
from the quarry district to Van Wert, and in a short time the
"Palmer Stone Quarry" was known all over Van Wert county.
Shortly after opening the quarry Miss Palmer had
the stone tested to find if it was of a quality suitable for lime,
and, such proving the case, she soon had lime kilns in operation.
The quarry being now in good running order, she began clearing and
improving the farm and making improvements that greatly benefited
the entire locality. The quarry road from the quarry to the
Ridge road, was entirely new, and as its condition affected the
business of the quarry to a great extent, with characteristic
enterprise and energy she proceeded to macadamize her right-of-way,
running along the quarry road from the quarry to the Ridge road, or
pike.
In the course of time the matter of improving the
streets in Van Wert village was discussed, and in a short time the
village council decided to macadamize Main street, and Miss
Palmer, securing the contract, proceeded with the work, and
although the stone was broken to the required size - by hand - the
work was finished in such a manner as to call forth the
commendations of the local newspapers and the people in general.
Before the contracts were awarded for the next street
improvements Miss Palmer had purchased a No. 3 Gates stone
crusher, and in the face of active competition secured the
contracts, and in all work afterward done by the Palmer Stone Quarry
no objection was ever raised as to its not being finished according
to the specifications. To obtain the success which Miss
Palmer did, meant work, and work of the hardest kind.
Living for several years in the village, it was necessary for her to
drive out to the quarry almost every day, four and one-half miles,
morning and evening, in all kinds of weather; and, suffering the
discomforts of such a marshy, ague-breeding locality, we cannot
wonder that her health became impaired; consequently, in 1877, she
was forced to give up her active business life and seek a change of
climate, going east, where she remained most of the time until the
summer of 1890, when she returned home, but not renewed in strength,
and her remained until her death, which sad event occurred August
12, 1891.
The who knew Miss Zaide Palmer, testify as to
her worth. Gifted as a business woman, possessing a superior
education, which included possessing a superior education, which
included several of the languges, she enjoyed life as few
enjoy it. Exact in all her dealings, yet most generous of
heart and purse, never refusing to relieve the suffering, and always
ready to assist in any work for the betterment of humanity, she was
esteemed by all who knew her. So lived and died Zaide
Palmer held in loved remembrance by all with whom she was
intimate and with kindly memories by those with whom she came in
contact.
The Palmer Stone Quarry at present is owned Mrs. M.
Reta Palmer Semple a younger sister, who was married, in
Philadelphia, Pa., to William J. Semple June 15, 1893.
Mr. Semple is a native of England, and since 1894 has had
charge of the quarry and estate. He is a man of culture and
refinement, and socially he and wife are very popular.
A Portrait and biographical record of
Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio -Publ. 1896 - Page 599 |
ASA
POLLOCK, an old and well known citizen of Jennings township,
and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Van Wert
county, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Graham) Pollock,
and dates his birth on the 24th day of September, 1823. His
parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but became residents of Ohio
as early as 1812, settling in Columbiana county, where they reared a
family the names of their children being as follows:
William, died in 1894; John, deceased; Mary,
deceased wife of John Hyer; Nelson deceased; Robert; Asa;
Jane, deceased, wife of Josiah Wolford; Elizabeth,
deceased; Martha, deceased; Harris P., killed at the
battle of Lookout Mountain; James, who died in childhood;
Ellen deceased wife of William Lindsey.
THOMAS POLLOCK and family moved
to the county of Van Wert, in 1838, locating in what is now Ridge
township, the country at that time being a comparative wilderness.
Mr. Pollock built the first court house and jail in Van Wert,
and it is a fact worthy of note that the subject of this sketch,
then a boy in his 'teens, did the cooking for the builders. It
is stated, as a matter of historical interest, that the first two
occupants of the jail were John Myers and Samuel Mattocks,
who usually remained in their cells during the day and rambled at
will through the village and country of night. There were few
roads at that time in the country, and the subject relates that
deer, wild turkeys and other kinds of game were plentiful, and
formed much of the diet of the early settlers. Thomas
Pollock died in November, 1865, his wife in 1868.
Asa Pollock was born in Columbiana county, spent
his boyhood at farm labor, and ended his school days at the early
age of twelve years. It might be said that he literally grew
up with ax in hand, and he assisted in felling the forest on his
father's place in Van Wert county, performing a man's labor when but
a lad, and learning the lessons of industry for which he has since
been noted. He is proud of the fact that his parents were
godly people, and they failed not to instruct him in his duties to
his Maker and his fellow man.
Mr. Pollock was married, in 1853, to Mary
Leathers, daughter of Christian and Catherine Leathers,
the issue of which union is as follows: John, who died
in early childhood; Alfretta, wife of Jacob Turner; Ellen
wife of Jacob Dibert; Abraham L., married to Amanda
Zeigler; Allen B.; Katie, wife of John Wilcox; Hugh G.,
who married May Norman; Lewis Otto, married
to Daisy Williams; William H.; Charley, who died
in infancy, and Jesse.
Mr. Pollock can truthfully say that he earned every
dollar that he possesses, and he is now the owner of 220 acres of
valuable land in the townships of Jennings and Washington. He
has served as trustee of his township four terms and discharged the
duties of the office in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr.
Pollock is a Presbyterian in his religious belief, while his
wife subscribes to the creed of the Lutheran church.
A Portrait and biographical record of
Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio -Publ. 1896 - Page 615 |
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