1816-1916 Cedarville Centennial Souvenir

Saw-mills were needed, and in 1811 Jesse Newport built on~ and also a dim on Massie's Creek, just below Main street. A bridge also was needed, and he built a wooden bridge on Main street for farmers to haul logs to his mill. This was the first mill and bridge on Massie's Creek. There were too many logs to saw for this mill alone, and four other mills were built along the creek at intervals for two miles below. Also later a portable saw-mill was built in the village, that sawed logs for many years. All these mills were abandoned, because the supply of logs was exhausted. One alone, employed by the Tarbox Lumber Co., is needed. Some years ago there was a flax-mill, but it ceased its labors be– cause the farmers quit raising flax. Two flouring water mills are the only ones left on Massie's Creek. The greatest of all the mills is the steam paper mill, built in 1892 by the Hagar Straw Board and Paper Co., George Little, President; A. Z. Smith, Manager. The plant cost $200,000. The material used per day is 30 tons of straw. The output is 23 tons of paper. It employs 65 men at good wages, and puts in circulation thousands of dollars. It is the biggest thing in Cedarville. The Andrew Br fil'~:fL.Q.!L!'!,_ extensive business. They own 1400 acres of rich soil and deal in fine stock of Red Polled cattle, and in coal, etc. Oscar Bradfute ana Frank Turnbull, dealers in fine cattle. Robert Watt and Foust, dealers in fine hogs. Williamson Bros., dealers in fine sheep. No other spot on the globe can find better. Kerr and Hastings Brothers have an elevator and do an extensive business in coal and a general store. Along in the 40's, the burning of lime was quite a business. Seven or eight families were supported by it. They obtained tree-tops and fallen timber from the farmers, and the only cost was the hauling. There was abundance of limestone, and thousands of bushels were burnt every year and hauled in wagons to Xenia, South Charleston, and Washington, C. H. As much as $40,000 were put into circulation in Cedarville. The only one now engaged in this business here is D. S. Ervin, who burns 5000 bushels each year. He ships on the cars and does not have to haul it in wagons as those in the 40's were obliged to do. The stone here makes the best lime on the market. ROADS The first road opened to Xenia and Cincinnati by the Townsleys and others passed west into the ravine that enters the paper mill reser– voir and down through it 50 rods, then forded Massie's Creek and kept on the lowland passed the Rankin Bull residence on east side and to the north side of the hill west and on to Xenia. The second road was opened from the west end of Chillicothe street to a new bridge that was built across the narrow place of Massie's Creek, and on from it, angling to and around where now the paper mill is located, and followed the high ground till it connected with the first road near the Rankin Bull residence. By this road they escaped the swollen creek ford. Other roads in all directions were opened through the woods.