Ironton in Lawrence County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Commerce on the Big River

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2021

1. Commerce on the Big River Marker

Inscription.
The Ohio River has long been a major means of transportation, from the times of Native Americans to the barge traffic of today. In the 1800's flat boats traveled the river to trade or sell items. On any given day, flatboats full of vegetables, fruits, lumber, and animal pelts would go by. Many of these flatboats would go as far as New Orleans before selling their flatboat and splitting the profits made during the trip amongst the crew. The crew would then take a steamboat back up the Ohio River to home.

In the 1850s, the Iron Railroad brought iron to the river. Even the locomotives for the Iron Railroad were transported down the river from Pittsburgh. Barges and trains moved the iron and the success of the iron industry and its allied manufacturing created men of great wealth in Ironton. The affluence of those early days is still reflected in many of Ironton’s grand homes and churches.

With the wealth from iron, new industries opened that included soap and nail production. At one point the Kelly Nail Works, one of several local nail companies, produced 500,000 kegs of nails annually. River traffic carried the products from

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these booming businesses.

Apples
This area is not generally known for agriculture, but one product stands out — the Rome Beauty or Red Rome apple.

In 1817, Joel Gillett found an apple tree seedling which was different from others he had purchased from Mr. Putnam in Marietta, Ohio. He gave the odd seedling to his son who planted it on the banks of the Ohio River, near Proctorville.

Several years later the tree was found bearing deep red, glossy fruit. The family took cuttings of the young tree to grow more apples. It gained popularity as a good cooking apple as well as a staple in cider.

Later, the apple was named the Rome Beauty after the township where it was found. The Rome Beauty remains popular and is still a staple variety in American commerce though barrels of apples may no longer be rolled down and put on flat boats.

[photo captions]
• The Belfont Iron and Nail Works in Ironton, ca. 1886.
• Rome Beauty Apple

Erected by Ohio River Scenic Byways & Federal Highway Administration.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.

Location. 38° 32.209′ N,

Marker detail: The General Pershing, 1920 image. Click for full size.

Cincinnati Public Library & Hamilton County Collection

2. Marker detail: The General Pershing, 1920

The General Pershing uploading apple barrels along the Ohio River in 1920.

82° 40.618′ W. Marker is in Ironton, Ohio, in Lawrence County. It can be reached from the intersection of South 9th Street and Washington Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in the Ohio River Scenic Byway interpretive kiosk on the south side of the Frisch's Big Boy parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 South 9th Street, Ironton OH 45638, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Kyova Tri-State Region.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Did You Know? (here, next to this marker); There is Much to See on the Ohio River Scenic Byway (here, next to this marker); Tourism Along the Byway

Marker detail: The Greendale, 1909 image. Click for full size.

Cincinnati Public Library & Hamilton County Collection

3. Marker detail: The Greendale, 1909

The Greendale, a low water stern-wheeler, unloading empty apple barrels at South Point, OH in 1909.

(here, next to this marker); John Campbell (here, next to this marker); Ironton and the Ohio River (here, next to this marker); Hanging Rock Iron Furnace Region (here, next to this marker); The Wayne National Forest (here, next to this marker); Getting Products to Market (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ironton.

Also see . . . Rome Apple (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The Rome apple (also known as Red Rome, Rome Beauty, Gillett's Seedling) is a cooking apple originating near Rome Township, Ohio, in the early 19th century. This apple remains popular for its glossy red color and for its utility in cooking.
The story is given that in 1817 Joel Gillett found a seedling tree in a shipment from a nursery. His son planted the tree on the banks of the Ohio River in Rome Township near Proctorville, Ohio where several years later it was found producing red fruit. His cousin Horatio Nelson Gillett took cuttings and started a nursery to promote the apple. Originally known as “Gillett's Seedling”, it was renamed the “Rome Beauty” in 1832 in honor of the township. The original tree survived into the
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2021

4. Commerce on the Big River Marker
This marker is the rightmost panel on the south side of the Ohio River Scenic Byway interpretive kiosk.
1850s until it was felled by erosion of the river bank.

(Submitted on September 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.