Brick
From Lynch (2009): “From initial observation, the red color seems to indicate that the clay came from the Mississippi River. The brick does not have a brickmaker’s stamp, and the age is unknown. This sample is a fire brick, has sharp-pressed edges, and is struck from header to header across the bedding face. The strike marks on the brick indicate that it was struck with a wire. The lack of sand in the surface indicates that oil was used as a molding lubricant. Given these characteristics, the brick appears to have been extruded through a stiff-mud machine.”
From Lynch (2009): “From initial observation, the red color seems to indicate that the clay came from the Mississippi River. The brick does not have a brickmaker’s stamp, although it is likely that the brick dates to the 1820s. This sample is a regular brick, has rounded edges, and is struck from header to header across the bedding face. The strike marks on the brick indicate that it was struck with a wooden striker, which is consistent with the period. The lack of sand in the surface indicates that water was used as a molding lubricant. Given these characteristics, the brick appears to have been hand-moulded using the soft-mud method.”
Raw brick clay and mortar analysis from Western Clay Manufacturing Company, Helena, Montana.
“Nelsonville Block” note on it.
The Nelsonville Block brick originated in Nelsonville and the Hocking Valley. The growth of brick-making was a part of the iron ore production of the Hocking Valley. Early blast furnaces in Hocking County date back to the 1850s. Wood was burned into charcoal which was used to heat furnaces that in turn heated the iron so it could be reduced to ingots for shipping.
Source: https://www.logandaily.com/news/nelsonville-s-history-brick-by-brick/article_6504677b-1f1c-5fc7-80e9-edec9233cc61.html