140 ANNUAL REPORT 
tions I, 2, 3, 11 and 12. Work done since that time has not materially 
changed the field. 
Discovery.—The people living along the valleys of Buck run and 
Wolf creek had, from the time of the settlement of the territory, noticed 
oil escaping at numerous points in the valleys of those streams, and they 
concluded from this that there might be reservoirs of oil in the rocks 
below. In the fall of 1860 a well was drilled on the east bank of Wolf 
creek, a few hundred feet above the point at which Buck run units with 
it, on the Ritchey farm, now owned by John Grey. 
The well was a success, though only 37 feet deep. ‘The oil sand lay 
immediately below the Ames or Crinoidal limestone. This lime rock has a 
thickness ordinarily less than 2 feet, is very hard, and so is easily recog- 
nized by the driller. It is filled with fossils, especially crinoidal stems, and 
is widely known among the oil men of southeastern Ohio as the “fossil 
rock.’ In fact, it is one of the geological landmarks of the driller, since 
one of the richest oil sands in that part of the state lies about 90 feet 
below it. The oil from this well being thick and heavy, was used for 
lubricating purposes, and was hauled in wagons to McConnelsville, where 
it found a ready market. At first the well was pumped by hand, but later 
by horse-power. The well was long-lived. It was not until about 1875, 
when the production had diminished to one barrel per week, that the well 
was finally abandoned. 
Development.—The second well in this field was drilled on the Lewis 
Balding, now the Stanton farm. This well, however, was deeper, being 
the first one to strike the First Cow Run sand, which was found at a 
depth of about 120 feet. According to the best information obtainable 
at this late period, the well produced at first about 20 barrels per day, and it 
is of interest to report that it is still (1900) a producer. About 6 years 
ago the well was drilled deeper and cased to a depth of 40 feet to exclude 
the surface water. This well was pumped by horse-power from the first. 
The Greathouse is another of the wells drilled in 1861. It was named 
after the driller and is located on the D. D. Scott farm, in the northeast 
quarter of section 11. When the sand was struck oil began flowing, and: 
the necessary tanks not having been provided, dams were constructed 
across the creek, and in this manner the oil was saved until tanks could 
be provided. It is said that from 8 to 10 teams were kept busy hauling 
the product of this well to McConnelsville, 5 miles distant. About 1890 an 
attempt was made to clean the well, but in doing this a string of tools was 
lost in it, and the well abandoned. A new one was begun at once about 
6 feet from the old well, and it has proved itself a worthy successor of 
Greathouse No. 1. In July, 1900, it was producing 2% barrels per day. 
Another of the pioneer wells, still producing, was drilled in 1865 on 
the James Scott farm, in the central part of section 2. This farm is prom- 
inent in the oil production of the field, and so a line or two concerning the 
