164 



CONDITIONS BY COUNTIES. 



operations. Mr. Murray, from whom the town derived its name, 

 and who acted as foreman in the business, remained about two 

 years, but becoming financially embarrassed, sold out and re- 

 moved to some point below. The business was then carried on 

 by Capt. Wm. Hicks, John Eoberts and E,. W. Skillenger. * * * 

 ***** During the year 1847 the steam saw mill was erected 

 by James F. Scott, John Roberts and E. W. Skillengeir, who 

 continued the business of boat building. Many were the disad- 

 vantages under which boat building was carried on during the 

 first eight or ten years. There was no saw mill in the country, 

 and the lumber was procured by the soul killing method, com- 

 monly called "whip sawing." Among these old pioneer "whip 

 sawyers" we find the names of Samuel Swain, Joseph Grim, 

 Samuel Craig, Samuel Pearson, Eli Powell, George Caster, 

 Jacob Brinkerstaif, Damon Springer, Samuel White, and two 

 men from Mill Creek, John Tall and J. Thomas, commonly 

 known as the "Eed men from the East." Among the pioneer 

 ship carpenters we find the names of E. W. Skillenger, John 

 Ml. Whealdon, Benj. OUom, Jerry OUom, John Bell, Thomas 

 Bell, Frank Bell, Adam Parker, Thomas Fry, and many others. 

 R. W. Skillenger became foreman in the yard in the year 1840, 

 and occupied the position until the spring of 1884, making his 

 term of service about forty years. ********* 



' ' Following is a list of the steam boats built at Murrayville, 

 in the order as they were built, and the names of the parties 

 for whom they were built:" 



NAMES OP BOATS. PARTIES FOR WHOM BUILT. 



Amazon Capt. Louderbeck 



Miami Capt. Greene 



Gen. Scott Capt. Dobbins 



Scioto Valley Capt. Hicks 



Ohio Valley Davis & Smith 



Oneida Davis & Smith 



Congress Capt. Hicks 



Imp ort er Capt. Johnson 



Lancet Capt. Hicks 



Fort Wayne \ Capt. Hicks 



Louis Phillip Rogers & Co. 



Scioto Davis & Smith 



