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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 143
a cotton factory was built at Castalia. In 1864 John Hoyt bought the
mill property and organized a stock company for the manufacture of
paper under the name of the Castalia Paper Company, with Air. Hoyt
as manager and chief stockholder.. He moved the* old cotton factory
down to the flouring mill and built some additions, and in about a year
had in operation a first-class paper mill. It had a capacity of a ton
a day and was run day and night until it was burned in 1874.
The following year, 1875, the water poAver Avas bought for $8,000 by
some of the leading men in Margaretta, viz.: C. Caswell, J. B. Witter,
J. G. Snowden, E. D. AVhite, S. H. Rogers, Philip Erbe, T. C. Adams
and J. D. Chamberlain. They incorporated the Castalia Milling Company
and proceeded to build a first-class flouring mill. The building
was a substantial frame, built on the foundation of the old stone mill,'
three stories high, besides basement and attic. This^mill had a capacity
of 125 barrels of flour per day. They kept it running night and day
and could not fill their orders even then. An elevator was also built,
capable of storing 20,000 bushels of wheat, with all modern appliances
for convenience in handling grain. This mill was afterwards moved
about eighty rods west and run by steam. The stream was converted
into a trout stream belonging to the clubs.
The mill at Venice, owned by Dwelle & Williams, was burned in 188b,
and the Avater privileges were then sold.
Distilleries began to appear as other manufacturing •establishments
multiplied, and in 1823 Dr. B. L. Carpenter, at the head of Cold Creek,
erected a small distillery. His brother, S. C. Carpenter, assisted him.
It afterwards was owned by Chapman & Andrews, of Bellevue, and from
them passed into the hands of Japan Johnson. It Avas abandoned m
1830 There had been another distillery built at Venice in 1824 by one
William Alason, of Milan. It was in operation eight years. After a few
years it was again started by David Barber. It was also abandoned.
Numerous saloons have also been doing a thriving business from an
early day. . .
About the year 1832 a temperance society was organized at a meeting
which was addressed by Revs. E. Conger and L. B. Burley. About
fifteen signed the pledge. Since then there have been several other
temperance organizations, one in 1859 and two others since. They have
done much good, and the majority of the people of the township have
become friends of temperance. .
The first religious organization in Margaretta was a Methodist class in
Muscash, in the southeast corner. .(The name Aluscash is said to be of
Indian derivation, and arose from the fact that the tribes brought their
skins here for barter, and not being able to speak English, and wanting
monev instead of produce, insisted on "Aluscash" or must cash.)
It is not. known who preached the first sermon. In 1819 a Presbyterian
Church was organized in Margaretta and Groton by Rev. John
Seward. Its members moved away and the organizatioiidk|d^-IirT82.1
a Baptist Church was started, having its menube^hrOxford, Groton
and Margaretta. This was the only church theTlustained regular services