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M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02279 7473
L
I
PHOTOGRAPHED BY BAKER.
CAPITOL OF OHIO
HISTORY
OF THE
CITY OF COLUMBUS
CAPITAL OF OHIO,
BY
ALFRED E. LEE, A. M.
Author of "European Days and Ways," "Battle of Gettysburg," "Sketches and Studies of Leading . Campaigns," etc.
IN TIFO VOLUMES.
ILLUSTRATED. VOLUME II.
PUBLISHED BY MUNSELL & CO., NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. 1892.
COPYRIGHT, 1892. BY MUNSELL & CO., NEW YORK.
1194901
CONTENTS
INTERMEDIATE PERIOD.
PAGE.
Chapter I. First Years as a City
. Alfred E. Lee. 3
Chapter II. Second War Episode
Alfred E. Lee. 15
Chapter III. The California Exodus
.
Alfred E. Lee. 30
Chapter
IV. Reception and Visit of Lonis Kossuth
Alfred E. Lee. 38
Chapter V. Balloon Ascensions
Alfred E. Lee.
49
Chapter VI. Current Events in the Forties and Fifties
Alfred E. Lee. 55
Chapter VII. Citizen Military before 1860
Alfred E. Lee. 72
Chapter
VIII. I. In Wartime-1861
Alfred E. Lee. 88
Chapter IX. II. In Wartime-1862
Alfred E. Lee. 108
Chapter X. III. In Wartime-1863
Alfred E. Lee. 125
Chapter XI. IV. In Wartime-1864
Alfred E Lee.
139
Chapter XII. Victory and Sorrow-1865
. Alfred E. Lee.
147
Chapter XIII. Return of the Volunteers .
Alfred E. Lee. 156
Chapter XIV. War Experiences at Columbus
George B. Wright. 168
Chapter XV. Old Guard and New
Alfred E. Lee. 186
Chapter
XVI. The Great Encampment
Alfred E. Lee. 199
METROPOLITAN PERIOD.
Chapter XVII. Current Events Since 1865
Alfred E. Lee. 221
Chapter XVIII. Railways
Jolin J. Janney. 233
Chapter XIX. Street Transportation
John J. Janney. 304
Chapter XX. Manufactures
Alfred E. Lee. 315
Chapter XXI. Industrial Events
Alfred E. Lee. 341
Chapter XXII. Board of Trade
. Alfred E. Lee. 366
Chapter XXIII. Political Events; 1797-1840
Alfred E Lee. 372
Chapter XXIV. Political Events ; 1840-1948
. Alfred E. Lee. 388
Chapter XXV. Political Events ; 1849-1853
Alfred E. Lee. 404
Chapter XXVI. Political Events ; 1854-1860
AlfredI E. Lee. 418
Chapter XXVII. The Coalition of 1855 .
Oren Follett.
430
Chapter XXVIII.
Political Events ; 1861-1867
Alfred E. Lee. 435
Chapter XXIX. Political Events; 1868-1889
Alfred E. Lee.
447
.
(v.)
vi.
CONTENTS.
THE MUNICIPALITY.
Chapter XXX. Council, Mayoralty and Police-I
Alfred E. Lee. 467
Chapter XXXI. Council, Mayoralty and Police-11
Alfred E. Lee. 474
Chapter XXXII. Council, Mayoralty and Police-III . Alfred E. Lee. 482
Chapter XXXII. The City Government; compiled by . . Alfred E. Lee. 496 516
Chapter XXXII. Public Library and Readingroom
Chapter XXXIII. Streets, Sewers and Parks
. Alfred E. Lee. 519
Chapter XXXIII. Recent Street Paving
N. B. Abbott. 538
Chapter XXXIV. Water Supply, Fire Protection and Street
Lighting
Alfred E. Lee. 541
STATE CAPITOL AND INSTITUTIONS.
Chapter XXXV. The Capitol
Alfred E. Lee. 565
Chapter XXXVI. The Penitentiary
Alfred E. Lee. 578
Chapter XXXVII. Central Asylum for the Insane
Alfred E. Lee. 591
Chapter XXXVIII. Institution for the Deaf and Dumb
Professor Robert Patterson. 599
Chapter XXXIX. Institution for the Blind
Late Superintendent G. L. Smead. 611
Chapter XL. Institution for the Feebleminded
Hon. Norton S. Townshend. 617
Chapter XLI. Ohio State University
Alfred E. Lee. 621
CHURCH HISTORY-PART II.
Chapter XLII. Catholic
Rev. Dennis A. Clarke. 633 Chapter XLIII. Baptist
Osman C. Hooper. 675
Chapter XLIV. Lutheran
Professor Lewis Heyl, F. J. Heer and Rev. C. H. Rohe. 693
Chapter XLIV. Capital University
Professor Emanuel Schmid. 701
Chapter XLV. Various Churches
. Alfred E. Lee. 705
Chapter XLV. Protestant Episcopal
705
Chapter XLV. Independent Protestant German . 709
Chapter XLV. United Brethren in Christ and Disciples of Christ
710
Chapter XLV. Universalist
Rev. W. M. Jones. 711
Chapter XLV. Congregation of B'nai Israel
714
Chapter XLV. Young Men's Christian Association
715
Chapter XLV. Columbus Churches in 1892
719
Chapter XLVI. Cemeteries Alfred E. Lee. 721
Chapter XLVII. Charities .
Alfred E. Lee. 728
ASSOCIATIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
Chapter XLVIII. Associative
Organizations ; I.
Masonic
Bodies -
.
· D. N. Kinsman, M. D. 747
vii.
CONTENTS.
ASSOCIATIVE ORGANIZATIONS-Continued.
Chapter XLIX. Associative Organizations; II. Independent Order of Odd Fellows Charles L. Young. 765
Chapter
XLIX. The Männerchor
Alfred E. Lee.
768
Chapter XLIX. The Liederkranz . Thomas F. M. Koch. 769
Chapter
XLIX.
The Turnverein
Alfred E. Lee.
771
Chapter
XLIX. The Wyandot Club
E. L. Taylor, Esq. 773
Chapter
XLIX. The Columbus Club
773
Chapter XLIX. Associative Organizations in 1892 775
Chapter L. Music and the Drama
Alfred E. Lee. 782
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Chapter LI. Representative Citizens; W. B. O'Neill, A C. Carson and others :
Abbott, N. B. 823
Bergin, M. J.
848
Bliss, J. P. 822
Born, Conrad, Junior 832
Bright, George W.
831
Bruck, Philip H.
820
Clarke, Rev. D. A.
827
Dundon, T. J. 848
Emminger, Allen F. 840
Evans, Maurice 825
Felber, Jacob 836
Freeman, George D. 812
Goldschmidt, John C. 829
Gottschall, Frederick J. 849
814
Grubs, William H.
838
Grün, Dietrich 816
854
Hardesty, W. A. 841
843
Heddäus, Rev. Christian
830
Hendrixson; O. P. 826
Jäger, Frederick 821
Jessing, Rev. Joseph 828
807
Kilbourne, James; Junior 810
Knight, H. W. 824
Lilley, M. C. 803
Löwer; Valentine 816
Mätzel, George H. 814
Mckinley, William, Junior 817
Montgomery, James Myers 846
Morley, A. T. 839
Neil, H. M. . 809
Newsom, L. C. 845
Gray, D. S.
Hallwood, Henry S.
Hartman, S. B.
Jones, J. K.
viii.
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL-Continued.
Obetz, Nelson 825
Patton, A. G. 813
Peters, George M. 844
Peters, Osrar G. 844
Powell, Thomas E. 819
Pugh, Andrew G. 840
Pulling, Janus G. 817
Reynolds, William C.
837
Rickly, Samuel S. 833
Saul, John 850
Savage, William M. S05
Shrock, M E.
804
Swayne, Noah H. 837
Swayne. Wager 808
T. Ilmadge, Theodore W.
851
Watterson, Bishop John A.
658
Wege, Charles 839
Wenz. John 849
Wright George B.
168
ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHURCHES. PAGE.
First Baptist Meetinghouse
677
Russell Street Baptist
681
First Baptist 686
Memorial Baptist 689
697
Universalist
712
MANUFACTORIES.
Buckeye Buggy Company . opposite 376
Case Manufacturing Company opposite 392
Columbus Buggy Company
325
Columbus Machine Company
333
Crystal Ice Manufacturing and Cold Storage Company opposite
424
Jeffrey Manufacturing Company
opposite 432
Kilbourne-Jacobs Manufacturing Company 321 and 329
Ohio (Hallwood Block) Paving Company 336
The Regalia (M. C. Lilley Company)
317
SURGICAL HOTEL
opposite 600
LA NORMANDIE
.
opposite
800
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Capitol, The State
frontispiece
Courthouse, Franklin County
opposite 218
Deaf and Dumb, Institution for the
605
RESIDENCES.
Abbott, N. B.
opposite 240
Belknap, S. C.
opposite 816
Born, Conrad, Junior,
opposite 75
Drake, Mrs. J. M.
opposite
56
Dunn, Joseph H.
.
opposite 616
(ix.)
Saint Paul's Lutheran
x.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
RESIDENCES-Continued.
Fish, W. H.
opposite
840
Gray, David S.
opposite 240
Hardesty, William A.
. opposite
368
Hartman, S. B.
opposite
616
Hughes, F. L.
opposite
832
Huntington, B. N.
opposite 40
Jäger, Frederick
. opposite
496
Kilbourn, James
opposite
128
Lazarus, Frederick
. opposite
800
Lilley, Mitchell C.
opposite
16
Löwer, Valentine
. opposite
272
McMillin, Emerson
opposite
24
Patton, Alexander G.
, opposite
208
Powell, Thomas E.
opposite
544
Prentiss, F. W.
opposite
40
Pugh, A. G. .
opposite
544
Stewart, E. K.
. opposite
56
PORTRAITS.
Abbott, N. B.
. opposite
520
Bergin, Matthew J.
opposite 672
Bliss, J. P.
. opposite 512
Born, Conrad, Junior
opposite
752
Bright, George W.
opposite
720
Bruck, Philip H.
· opposite
480
Clarke, Dennis A.
. opposite
640
Dondon, Thomas J.
opposite
448
Emminger, Allen F.
. opposite
760
Evans, Maurice
opposite
570
Felber. Jacob
. opposite 344
Firestone, Clinton D.
opposite
160
Freeman, George D.
opposite
192
Goldschmidt, John C. .
opposite 656
Gottschall, Frederick J. .
· opposite
768
Gray, David S.
opposite
240
Grubs, William H.
. opposite opposite
288
Hallwood, Henry S.
. opposite
336
Hardesty, William A.
opposite 368
Hartman, S. B.
opposite 600
Heddäus, Christian
opposite 704
Hendrixson, Oliver P.
. opposite
592
Jaeger, Frederick
opposite 496
Janney, John J.
. opposite 256
Jessing, Joseph
opposite 648
Jones, James Kilbourne
. opposite
80
.
784
Grün, Dietrich
xi.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS-Continued.
Kilbourne, James
opposite
128
Knight, Henry W. .
opposite 528
Lilley, Mitchell Campbell
opposite 16
Löwer, Valentine
. opposite 272
Mätzel, George H.
opposite 224
McDougal, James D.
. opposite
800
Mckinley, William, Junior
opposite
384
Montgomery, James M. .
opposite
464
Morley, A. T.
opposite 360
Neil, Henry M.
. opposite 112
Neil, John B.
opposite 416
Neil, Moses H.
opposite
144
Newsom, Logan C.
opposite
624
Obetz, Nelson
. opposite opposite
208
Peters, George M.
. opposite
64
Peters, Oscar G.
opposite 152
Powell, Thomas E.
opposite
400
Pugh, Andrew G.
opposite
544
Pulling, James G.
. opposite
304
Reynolds, William C.
opposite
352
Rickly, Ralph R.
. opposite
312
Saul, John
opposite 736
Savage, William M.
. opposite 48
Shrock, Michael E.
opposite
32
Swayne, Noah H.
opposite
8
Tallmadge, Theodore W.
opposite 176
Watterson, John Ambrose
. opposite 632
Wege, Charles
opposite 576
Wenz, John
· opposite 792
Wright, George B.
opposite
168
608
Patton, Alexander G.
PREFACE TO VOLUME II.
The completion of this work happens to be simultaneous with the celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of the landing of Columbus. The coincidence is accidental, but appropriate, and in some respects significant. While the story of the Great Discovery is being recounted with special observances in every part of the civi- lized world, the time is propitious for the consummation of a histori- cal record of the most important city bearing the discoverer's name.
It is an impressive fact that such a record is possible. When Columbus found and took possession of the island of Guanahani, so imperfect was his own knowledge of what he had accomplished that he believed he had touched the eastern confines of the Orient. In this belief he remained to the end of his life. He had no suspicion that an entire hemisphere yet lay between him and India. The islands which he saw were supposed to be a western group of the Indies, and were so named. Four centuries later the capital of a great State, lying in the interior of a vast continent which Columbus never knew to be such, bears his name and commemorates his achievements.
The change, the progress implied by this fact is incalculably great. In the social and material development, the history of which has been chronicled in these volumes, we have an admirable illustra- tion of this change. Less than one century ago the ground on which the City of Columbus now stands was covered with a forest as primi- tive as any which its illustrious namesake saw when he explored the
(xiii.)
xiv
PREFACE.
Bahamas, or visited the Orinoco. With miraculous celerity human energy and genius have transformed that wilderness into what we now see and enjoy. But yesterday the poetic seer might have said of it:
Behind the squaw's light birch canoe, The steamer rocks and raves, And city lots are staked for sale Above old Indian graves.
İ hear the tread of pioneers, Of nations yet to be - The first low wash of waves where soon Shall roll a human sea.
Today that sea, resistless and unresting, sweeps in vast swelling tide over all these hills and valleys.
The capital of Ohio is fitly named. A child of the wilderness, it worthily represents the marvelous results of which Columbus the explorer was the harbinger, and to which his voyages led the way. If not a continental city, it is at least a typical one. The common- wealth which created it, and adopted it as a political center, is pre- eminently a typical American State.
Thou art not East, thon art not West, Thou shieldest both with thy broad breast And loyal heart, Ohio.
In the population of the State all the elements of American life are fused; in its position and history all the important conditions of American development are found. Such a commonwealth, in growth, in relations and in social fibre so admirably representing America, does well to designate its capital by the name of America's dis- coverer.
What that heroic soul dreamed of and nobly strove after, but died without seeing, our eyes behold. Of the great things of the
PREFACE.
xV.
future which now lie beyond our sight as these things lay beyond his, and which will be realized by those who shall come after us, perhaps we are as unsuspecting as was he of what the last four centuries have revealed.
ALFRED E. LEE.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 12, 1892.
Intermediate Period.
1*
CHAPTER I.
FIRST YEARS AS A CITY.
The original incorporation of the Borough of Columbus was effected by act of the General Assembly passed March 3, 1834. By that act, which will be more specifically referred to in a later chapter, " so much of the county of Franklin " as was comprised within certain specified boundaries was declared to be a city, and the inhabitants thereof were " created a body corporate and politic, with per- petual succession, by the name and style of the City of Columbus."
From the passage of this act dates a new era in the political life of the capi- tal, which, for the sake of convenience may be denominated the Intermediate Period. New phases of commercial, industrial and social activity following the building of the National Road, the opening of the Canal, the establishment of a solvent and safe system of State Banking, the discovery and practical application of the Magnetic Telegraph, and finally, the advent of wheeled transportation by steam, were contemporary and also nearly conterminous with that period. Under special topics a portion of the incidents attending these economie changes have already been narrated ; our present task shall be to note the general course of miscellaneous events in the history of the capital down to the time when its polit- ical and business life assumed a metropolitan type. In other words, we shall now endeavor to bridge the historical space lying between the first active develop- ment of commerce by canal and the commercial, industrial and social metamor- phosis produced by the utilization of mineral resources which followed the open- ing of the Hocking Valley Railway.
Prior to the construction of the National Road and the Ohio Canal the growth of Columbus, notwithstanding its advantages as the seat of government, had not been rapid. In 1831 the town contained about three hundred and fifty dwellings, fifteen general stores, four printing offices, one bank, a markethouse, four churches-Presbyterian, Methodist, German Lutheran and Episcopalian-five clergymen, ten lawyers, five regular physicians, and a total population of 2,434 inhabitants.1 Such was the capital when the opening of the canal brought it into direct commercial connections with the East, and imparted a fresh stimulus to its development. In consequence of that stimulus several new additions to the town were laid out and sold, and so many new families arrived that a portion of them were obliged to go away again for want of houses to dwell in. This progress received a serions check from the cholera outbreak of 1833, but was renewed after
[3]
4
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
that epidemic had passed, and received an additional impetus from the completion of the National Road. At the time the Borough was incorporated as a city in 1834, its " official, professional and business men and houses," according to Martin, were as follows :2
United States Officers .- Clerk of the United States Courts, William Miner; Marshal of the District of Ohio, John Patterson ; District Attorney, Noah H. Swayne; Postmaster, Bela Latham ; 3 Superintendent of the National Road, Henry Brewerton ; Engineer and inspector, ditto, David Scott; Indian Agent, John McElvain.
State Officers .- Secretary of State, Benjamin Hinkson ; State Treasurer, Henry Brown; State Auditor, John A. Bryan; Chief Clerk in State Auditor's Office, Timothy Griffith ; Keeper of the Ohio Penitentiary, William W. Ganlt ; Superin- tendent of New Penitentiary, N. Medbyfry ; State Librarian, Zachariah Mills; Adjutant-General, Samuel C. Andrews; Quartermaster - General, Christopher Niswanger.
Practising Lawyers .- Gustavus Swan, Orris Parish, Noah H. Swayne, P. B. Wileox, Lyne Starling, Junior, M. J. Gilbert, Mease Smith, John G. Miller, Samuel C. Andrews, John D. Munford.
Practising Physicians .- Samuel Parsons, John M. Edmiston, M. B. Wright, Peter Jackson, Peleg Sisson, Robert Thompson, William M. Awl, N. N. Miller, S. Z. Seltzer, J. S. Landes, P. H. Eberly.
Officiating Clergymen .- James Hoge, D. D., Presbyterian ; William Preston, Episcopalian ; L. B. Gurley, Russell Bigelow, Thomas Asbury and Jesse F. Wis- com, Methodist, Mr. Gurley being a stationed preacher and Messrs. Bigelow, Asbury and Wiseom, Temperance Agents ; George Jeffries and Edward Davis, Baptist.
Merchants .- In dry goods and groceries, L. Goodale & Co., Buttles & Matthews, Stewart & Higgins, D. Woodbury, J. & S. Stone, A. P. Stone, John Greenwood, D. W. Deshler, McCoy & Work, John Brooks, Reuben Brooks, David Brooks, T. Pet- ers & Son, Saunders & Frye, Bond & Walbridge, Burr & Gregory, M. Northrup, Brotherton & Kooken, Joshua Baldwin & Co., Lemuel Reynolds, Olmsted & St. Clair, Robert Russell & Co .; auction store, C. W. Kent; wholesale druggists, O. & S. Crosby, Sumner Clark, J. S. & D. Landes ; booksellers and stationers, I. N. Whiting, B. & J. Turnbull ; tin and hardware, W. M. Kasson & Co., W. A. Gill & Co .; shoes, William W. Blake; jewelry, William A. Platt; wholesale grocers, Sherwood & Gregory, Finley & Hanford ; grocer and liquordealer, John Yonng.
Taverns .- National Hotel, John Noble; Franklin House (Southeast corner High and Town), J. Robinson & Son; Globe Hotel, Robert Russell ; Lion Hotel, Jeremiah Armstrong; Swan Hotel, Christian Heyl; Eagel Hotel, David Brooks ; White Horse Wagonyard, Amos Meneely; Farmers' and Mechanics' Tavern, T. Cadwallader ; Boarding House, Ira Grover.
To this list should be added some leather stores and small factories. The first theatre, of which a more particular account will be given in another chapter, was opened in the autumn of 1835.
er
5
FIRST YEARS AS A CITY.
One of the most interesting features of life at the capital at this time was the attendance of distinguished lawyers at the sessions of the courts. On this subject we find the following interesting sentences in one of the Jewett letters heretofore quoted :
United States Circuit Court closed its session a short time since. At the bar was quite a concentration of western talent. Judge McLean presides with supreme dignity. He is revered as a judge, and is very popular as a man. His bearing is such as would not ill befit the Chief Magistraey of the United States, and as for strong and commanding power of mind, the most jealous concede to him a more than ordinary share. The celebrated lawyer Dod- dridge, of Virginia, appeared at the bar. . . . His constitution is of iron, and dissipation, with late hours, have not been able to weaken it. . . . He is a signal instance of the weakness of moral united with the strength of intellectual power. Mr. Ewing, our United States Senator, was also on the carpet. A selfmade man, at twenty years of age he was an inferior laborer at the Kanawha Saltworks in Virginia. Behold him now! He is distinguished for unraveling the Gordian knots of the law. Mr. J. C. Wright was opposed to him in several cases. The sparring of the Judge and the Senator was kept up with wonderful spirit.
Of the general prosperity and prospects of the capital in 1836 we have the fol- lowing contemporary statements :4
Our citizens have, as it were per force, yielded acquieseence to the gradual, and, because gradual, almost imperceptible rise in real estate in this vicinity .. .. In the meantime the National Road has been completed to this point from the East, and is rapidly progressing West ; the Sandnsky and Columbus Turnpike has been completed, and numerous important and feasible projects for railroads, turnpikes, &c., are in embryo, proposing to connect our city with the Lakes, the Ohio River South and East of us, and with the Mississippi in the Far West The consequence of these things, added to the privileges we enjoy from the Obio Canal, the rapid increase of our city population (100 per cent in five years) and the high prices which everything consumable bears in our market, has gradually, but certainly and surely enhanced the value of real estate in this city and the country adjacent. . . . It is rumored, and we believe with truth, that some eastern capitalists have recently turned their attention tons. . . . In regard to city property it should be borne in mind that we are situated not only in the center and at the capital of one of the richest and most fertile States of the Union, but that we are enjoying and about to enjoy extended privileges which no other inland town can possibly partake of. Who does not perceive that a canal or railroad will in a very few years connect us by a direct route through the Scioto Valley with Lake Erie ? Who doubts but the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad will in five years reach the capital of Ohio ? Who doubts but that the great projected Railroad from Charleston to Lake Erie will be com- pleted in ten years, and pass directly through Columbus towards Cleveland ? If any, surely no one can doubt but that in less time a Railroad or M'Adamized road will extend from this direct to Cleveland on the East and Cincinnati on the West. Look which way you will, it is apparent that Columbus is, and from its situation must be, a radiating centre from and to which innumerable sources of wealth and prosperity will continue to flow. Five years since, it contained about 2,500 inhabitants; now about 5,500. Five years hence its numbers may not be less than eight - perhaps ten thousand.
The financial troubles which culminated in 1837 put a blight upon these fine prospects. Real estate and general prices declined, and for several years business remained in a disturbed or languid state Nevertheless Columbus must have been an interesting town, and withal a pleasant place to live in. The editor of the Wheeling Times, who visited the place as a delegate to an editorial convention in 1839 wrote of Ohio's capital :
6
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
It is now the prettiest town we have seen in the western country. It is prettily situated, and contains private residences exhibiting a high degree both of taste and wealth. There is an easy and comfortable air, a manifestation of learning, good morals and refine- ment, in all parts of the city, and a most social and agreeable manner evinced, so far as we could judge, in its inhabitants.
The socalled Michigan Boundary dispute, which culminated in February 1835, produced an episode of considerable local interest. The origin of this dis- pute may be briefly sketched. The Ordinance of 1787 authorized the formation of one or two states from that portion of the Northwest Territory lying " north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan," and the enabling act of Congress under which Ohio was admitted to the Union as a State described her northern boundary as " an east and west line drawn to the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan, running east after intersecting the due north line from the mouth of the Great Miami until it shall intersect Lake Erie, or the territorial line, and thence with the same line through Lake Erie to the Pennsylvania line." Perceiving that a line drawn due east from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan would probably not interseet the Maumee Bay at all, but fall south of it, the convention which framed the first constitution of Ohio put into that instrument a proviso that, should this apprehension be confirmed, then, with the assent of Congress, the northern boundary of Ohio should " be established by and extend to a direct line running from the southern extremity of Lake Mich- igan to the most northerly cape of the Miami Bay, after intersecting the due north line from the mouth of the Great Miami [Maumee] River aforesaid ; thence north- east to the territorial line to the Pennsylvania line."
In 1817, the line thus constitutionally defined was surveyed, under national anspices, by William Harris, and in 1818, it was formally adopted by the General Assembly of Ohio as the northern boundary of the State. Meanwhile the Terri- tory of Michigan had been formed with the southern boundary defined in the same paradoxical terms which had been used by Congress in the enabling act fix- ing the northern boundary of Ohio. Thus a sort of Schleswig-Holstein question was raised on our northern border, and it was not long in assuming a serious aspect. Congress undoubtedly intended to assign to Ohio a boundary substanti- ally identical with the Harris line, but the territorial anthorities of Michigan were not disposed to acquiesce in that view. These authorities claimed and proceeded to exercise jurisdiction over all the territory north of a line due east and west from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, thus assuming to take from Ohio a tri- angular tract over which she had hitherto held undisputed sway, and which extended from Lake Erie to her western boundary. This strip was about ten miles wide at its eastern extremity, and included the present site of the city of Toledo. On February 12, 1835, the Legislative Council of Michigan passed an act asserting control over this tract, and on the twentysecond of the same month the General Assembly of Ohio, acting in pursuance of a special message from Governor Lucas, passed an act identifying the northern boundary of the State with the Harris line. Thus the issue was joined. Stevens T. Mason, acting Governor of Michigan, officially announced that an armed collision was inevitable
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