In the year 1805 young Salters went to Jackson, then in Ross County, and was a laborer, carrying water for the Scioto Salt Works. There he became acquainted with Duncan Mc Arthur, a produce peddler, afterwards Governor of the State and Joseph Vance, an ox driver, or as the boys usually called him a "bullwacker", who was also elected Governor of Ohio. At the age of nineteen he started with a flatboat from Brownsville, Pa., loaded with iron castings, which he sold along the river to Cincinnati for a foundry man of Brownsville. He made several of these trips, and often sold salt kettles to Jesse B. Boone, of Greenup County, Ky., younger son of Col. Daniel Boone, and between the younger Boone and himself, a warm friendship sprung up, which afterward led him to go one hundred miles out of his way to see his friend. The incident will be mentioned further along.
In the year 1806 or 1809 subject if this article grew tired of the trials and hazards of a boatman’s life, and went tot the old Kanawha Salt Works, above Charleston, Va., (now W.Va.) And assumed the, management of he works for Captain Wilson, which position he held two years, and again returned to the river. On one of his trips to Cincinnati, he took Judge Torrence to the Queen City for the first time. When Judge Salters first boated to Cincinnati, there were but three brick homes there, it being only a trading post. Joel Williams owned one, Elmer Williams the second and "Skin-dresser" Williams, as he was termed to distinguish him from the others, owning the third.
In the year 1812 his brother was wounded in battle, and he went to Black Rock to bring him home. Here he saw Perry but a short time before the famous victory. On the 13th of December, 1813, he married Miss Frances Mason, of Fayette County, Pa., (who died the 27th of May, 1872) and made two trips to Cincinnati and one to Louisville. On this latter trip, which was extended to Cape Giradeau, he was in company with Jesse R. Grant, father of the President, who seemed very much rejoiced at the prospect of marrying when he returned from New Orleans, which it is presumed he did. Arriving at Cape Girardeau, Mrs. Salter was to visit relatives, while her husband took his 100 mile journey to see Jesse B. Boone, who lived in Missouri.
An incident of Col. Boone’s life heretofore unpublished, was here given to us by the judge.
In those days, coffin makers were not as numerous as at the present, and it was difficult to procure a suitable coffin on short notice. Col. Daniel Boone had three children living in Missouri - Mrs. Calloway, Nathan Boone, and Jesse B. Boone, an and at the house of each he had a coffin, so that if he died while at either place the funeral would not be delayed. While at the house of his son, Jessie, a millwright his son had brought from the East to erect a mill, took suddenly ill and died, and the Col. Generously gave his coffin up. Taking sick himself shortly after, he mounted his horse, and accompanied by a negro, rode to Mrs. Calloway’s distance of fifty miles, where he was conscious that he would have his urn at hand. Singularly enough, he died in a short time after reaching his daughter’s home.
But to return. In the year 1826 Judge Salters was chosen Sheriff of his county, filling the office with marked ability, a fact we learn from old files of Fayette County, Penn., papers. In the year 1831 he removed to Scioto County, and in company with one McGregor, of Cincinnati, operated Scioto Furnace for seven years, when, in 1838, he moved to the city, then town, of Portsmouth.
At the time Scioto Furnace was first operated by Salters & McGregor, Franklin Furnace was the only other furnace in the county. Shortly thereafter Bloom and Junior Furnaces were started.
About the year 1842, the Legislature of Ohio elected Mr. Salters Associate Judge, (with Batterson, Cranston, and Crull, colleagues) a position he filled with credit for seven years, resigning it to accept the Whig nomination for the Senate, to represent the counties of Scioto, Lawrence, Adams, and Pike. Judge Salters was elected and served with credit to himself and his constituents, Dennison, (afterwards Governor) and Randall, of Aslitabuls, the head and front of the Free Soldiers, were his compeers in that Legislative Assembly.
It was during the recess following the first session that one of the most remarkable escapes from death was experienced by the Senator from Scioto. It was in the summer of 1850, and he had been cleaning out his well in the spring-house, when he was struck by lightning and knocked down-a pair of steel tweeters, in his pantaloons pocket, being broken in three pieces and magnetize, the parts all retaining the magnetism- the lightning passing own his left leg and out at his shoe, tearing the upper off his foot. He was carried in for dead, and although unable to see, and deprived of feeling, heard the late Dr. Shackleford pronounce him dead. His head, that had before the stroke, had only a few silver hairs in it, was now turned white as snow; and when he returned to his seat in the Senate, Representative and Senators looked wonderingly at his premature gray hairs.
He served as County Commissioner but, could not remember the years of his term.
In the year 1839 he united with the M. E. Church, under the labors of the Rev. Mr. Simmons.
He has built several residents in the city, and gave the impetus to building by the erection of several handsome structures, one very fine one where the Bigelow Church now stands, which was nearly completed when it was nearly totally destroyed by fire in 1848.
The Judge, although 87 years of age, has never used spectacles, and can see to read as well now as he could three years ago. He is the only one living of a family of thirteen. By industry and honesty he has acquired an ample fortune, but has no children to inherit it. He is in good health, and we hope he may live many years to enjoy the fruit of his early labors.
We close this with the following reminiscence of Portsmouth:
In the year 1800, when he was boating, he heard that an English lord was building a palace at this place, and landing at the point, he fastened his boat, and through the mud and water of the beech bottoms, he traveled until he came to a two-story brick building being erected on the corner of Front and Jefferson streets, by Jacob Clingman, who had married an English lady, and the brick house was the palace to the early settlers. This was long before the orthodox days of the Judge, and as he waded back through the water to his boat, his ejaculations concerning the English lord and his palace, were anything but pious. Regarding the brick house we will have something more to say next week, when we will publish the second of the series, which will treat of a still older pioneer.
Death of an Old Citizen
The Portsmouth Times
7 Oct 1876
Judge Salters came of American and Irish ancestry. His father being a native of Baltimore and his mother being born near Cork in Ireland. The deceased was born in Fayette County, Pa., Aug. 1st 1786, was married to Miss Frances Mason of that county Dec. 13, 1813, who died in this city May 27th 1872. For eight years previous to his marriage he had boated on the Ohio river, worked at the Salt Works, at Charleston, W. Va, and Jackson, Ohio. Returning to Pennsylvania he located, and in 1826 was elected Sheriff of his county, making an honest and faithful officer. In 1831 he removed to this county, and located at Scioto Furnace, where for seven years the furnace was operated by, Salters and McGregor. In 1838 he settled in the town of Portsmouth. About 1842 the Ohio Legislature elected him Associate Judge, which position he finished with great credit for seven years, when he resigned his position and ran as the Whig candidate for the Senate in the District comprising Scioto, Lawrence and Pike counties, and was elected, serving creditably.
In 1839 he attached himself to the Methodist Church and while his previous life was one of the strictest integrity, from that time it became one of religious purity.
His character for honesty was unimpeachable. His social qualities were marked and his whole life was an open book that the young can read to advantage if they will copy his virtues. By industry, frugality, and sound business management he acquired a great deal of property, the value of which has increased with the growth of the city, and his estate is probably as valuable as that of any of our most wealthy citizens. He leaves no children to inherit it, but has a number of relatives.
The funeral services of the deceased will be held at Sixth Street M. E. Church tomorrow at two O’clock P.M.
The deceased being one of the oldest furnace men in this country the following pioneer furnace men have been invited to serve as pall bearers. John Campbell, John Ellison, John Peters, S. W. Dempsey, Thomas W. Means, of Ironton, and M. R. Tewksberry, John P. Terry, and John G. Pebbles of this city.
Judge Salters was a mason of over 70 years standing, and Aurora Lodge, No. 48, of which he was a member, with the other Lodge will participate in the funeral ceremonies.