In Missouri in the early 19th century there was some use of slave
labor in the iron industry and posibly the lead industry. Slaves
were mainly used for the less-skilled tasks. At least one account
indicates that the the owners of the Maramec Ironworks rented slaves
from the big landowners along the Mississippi and Misouri Rivers in
their off-season (winter) to do work at the furnace - James
James Wettstaed [log in to unmask]
Shared Service Archaeologist, Mark Twain National Forest
"all opinions expressed are my own etc."