404     HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
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germ was the founding of Sage's Ferry in 1819, by James
Sage. The first storehouse was built in 1839, and kept by Will-
iam Edwards. Not long after Mr. Enoch Gibbons built a black-
smith shop. There was a kind of saw and grist-mill there run for
many years by William Hobson. James Smith and O. Compton
did business there at one time. The above ferry has been discon-
tinued, and in its stead a joint county bridge has been built.
The business interests of the place have practically been aban-
doned for twenty-five years. There is, however, a stave fac-
tory being erected there, of some considerable proportions, by
Messrs. McDonald & Edwards. At one time Sidney did a fair
country business, but the changing of the postoffice and other
enterprises to Tampico gradually drew upon its resources, and
it is no more. In the year 1841 James Sage and wife deeded
to the trustees of the Methodist Church Lot No. 41, in Mount
Sidney. A class had been organized a few years before, and many
of the leading citizens had connected themselves with this church.