A Brief History the Origins of Mingo Junction, Ohio From History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio and Incidental Historical Collections                          by J.A. Caldwell (Wheeling, WV Historical Publishing Company, 1880) [Compiled here by Dr. Larry Smith] “Mingo Junction” As it is now named, is at present the site of a thrifty and prosperous village, designed for a town in the near future. The location referred to, including the property known as Potter’s farm, and also the Mean’s farm, was purchased, to the extent of six hundred acres, in 1800, bu the Rev. Lyman Potter, and his son-in-law, Mr. Jasper Murdock, the former, at the time, being a missionary from the Presbyterian church through Ohio and Pennsylvania. At his death the property was divided into two farms. . . . Daniel [Potter] Jr., at present a lumber merchant in Steubenville, in company with Mr. Abrahams, and Mr. Robert Sherrard, banker also of Steubenville, were made executors of the estate. These gentlemen, under date of June 1871, engaged the services laid out, consisting of forty-five lots. Mr. Elisha P. Potter next opened up an addition of twenty-five lots. . . . while in December, 1872, Mr. D. Potter and Mr. R. Sherrard, further added a second addition of forty-seven lots—this making the sum total of one hundred and seventeen lots submitted for building upon. It was the fact of the fine iron works being erected at this point that induced the idea of laying out a town, which works run successfully down to 1878, then stood idle for a considerable time, but opened up again brighter than ever in September last, under a new firm known as Mingo Iron Works Company. In 1872, a neat frame Presbyterian church was put up, at a cost of $2,500 at which the Rev. S. Forbes at present [1880] officiates, while the M. E.[Methodist] Church has also a mission here. A very nice public school was built in 1873, at a cost of $3,000, and is well attended. For several years lots sold freely, and fetched good prices, but in consequence of the recent stoppage of the iron works for some twelve to eighteen months, the real estate market in that locality has been exceedingly inactive—a state of affairs, however, that does not appear likely to continue. Nor should we [o]mit to state that about 1871-1872, there was a neat railroad depot erected here, at which there is express and Western Union telegraph agencies, and accommodations for passengers traveling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh or Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroads, while the station house is used for a post office, Mr. Robert Turner being in charge of the united departments conducted in the building. The iron works company have a mine in operation, with a shaft 238 feet deep, near the depot, which produces an excellent quality of coal from veins varying from two feet to three feet in thickness. On the Means farm there is also a capital drift mine, hence there is no lack of fuel in the neighborhood. In the village there is a hotel, run by mine host A. Carson, and there are also several stores—including a dry goods and notion house by Mrs. Hirshfield, a grocery and dry good store by Mr. David Simpson, and groceries by Mrs. McClusky, P. Goff, &c. In fact, with it railroad and river facilities, an ample supply of coal and abundant excellent water—ready access to Steubenville, and the advantage of a most healthy location, teeming with historical associations, we see every reasonable prospect of this favored spot of centuries ago, yet securing equal popularity in future with certainly enjoyed in the past.