| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
About Knox County The History of Mount Vernon The first pioneer to view the site of what is now Mount Vernon was John Stifley who, as a captive of the Indians, traversed Owl Creek (Kokosing River) from its mouth upward in June, 1779. Early explorers to the area are said to have found a settler living in a log cabin when they came up the Kokosing River prior to 1801. The first permanent settler to what later became Mount Vernon was an ax maker named Nathaniel Mitchell Young who settled in what is now Wayne Township in 1803. Captain Joseph Walker settled on the site of the present Mount Vernon in 1804 and in 1805, with the help of Benjamin Butler and Thomas Bell Patterson, laid out the town. A frequent visitor to the early settlement was Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), who is credited with planting apple trees throughout the region. He owned two lots in the original plat of the village. These lots are located off South Main Street along the river. As early as 1865, the Woodward Opera House was mentioned in histories of Mount Vernon. Located on the third floor above Sip's Coffee House & Deli at 101 South Main Street, the Woodward hosted local shows, traveling performers, vaudeville, minstrels, and presented the first movie shown in the county. It is also where Mount Vernon's most famous son, Daniel Decatur Emmett, made his farewell stage appearance. Dan Emmett was the author and composer of Dixie, the beloved song of the South during the Civil War, and one of the nation's favorite songs. Uncle Dan, as he was called later in life, is buried in Mound View Cemetery. At the close of the Civil War a number of prominent officers made their homes in the community influencing the growth of business and commerce in the area. Many of their residences were along East Gambier, East High, and North Main streets and remain classic examples of the architecture of the period. The three streets rank among the most beautiful residential areas in Ohio. They are registered historic districts, and many visitors to Mount Vernon take a walking tour along these streets. The evolution of industry in the county is highlighted by five important developments: the "gas and glass boom" of the early 1900s, an organized effort for industrial development, diversification of employment - through the start of small plants in widely different fields of manufacturing, and the growth of service industries including colleges, hospitals, retail stores, financial institutions and public utilities. Restoration and beautification projects keep Mount Vernon alive and interesting. Quoting journalist Hal Holbrook, "Anyone who wants to discover what America is all about should go to Mount Vernon, Ohio."
|
|
|
