The First Matches People Walked 15 Miles to See

Mamie Jones wrote that early lamps here used a stationary wick resting in a bowl containing animal fat or fish oil. She said the first matches seen in this section were brought by Noah Hoyle, of the Knob Creek section. Hoyle made a trip to Charleston in 1835 and brought back a miniature barrel three and one-half inches high containing 20 matches, for which he paid $1.00. Jones wrote that some people walked 15 miles just to see Mr. Hoyle “strike fire.”

Source: Mamie Jones.