USA > Ohio > A history of the state of Ohio, natural and civil > Part 28
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Its professional men of all sorts, are now, and always have been highly respectable for their talents, learning, industry and strict moral principles. The citizens of this town are as active, enterprising and useful as any others in the state.
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
Many of its citizens have at different periods, filled the very highest places of trust within the gift of Ohio. Three of them have been governors of the state, and several of them have been members of both houses of congress, and Chillicothe now has a United States senator and a member of the house of representatives.
The people of this town have always had a great influence in all matters of any importance to the state .. They have de- served all the confidence thus reposed in them by their fellow citizens.
CIRCLEVILLE, is on the Ohio and Erie canal, twenty-six miles below Columbus, and nineteen above Chillicothe. The canal here crosses the Scioto river by an aqueduct about thir- ty rods in length. This town now contains about three thou- sand people, and is fast increasing, in buildings, population and mercantile business. In this vicinity are the Pickaway plains, famed in all times past, for their fertility ; and Picka- way county contains more level, rich land, than any other one in the state.
There is a bridge across the Scioto here, which cost twenty thousand dollars.
In this county, more pork and flour are produced from their own grain, than in any other county of its size, in the Union. The farmers are becoming wealthy, and are buying large quantities of land, in newer countries. We have four church . es and about twelve schools. One or two for young ladies de- serve great praise, and receive it. The town is fast increasing in size and business of all sorts.
DELAWARE, is twenty-four miles north of Columbus, and is a thriving town. It is older than the last named town, but, not having any connection by water, with the main canal, as Co- lumbus has, by its nagivable feeder, Delaware has not grown up, like our canal towns. However its day must come yet, as the country all about it, is good, and will one day, be well set- tled and well cultivated, inasmuch as lands are cheap and good, in Delaware county. So of MARION, above Delaware, on the
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CITIES AND TOWNS.
turnpike from Columbus to Sandusky city. The country all around Marion is excellent and will be well improved within a few years.
SPRINGFIELD, the shire town of Clark county, is romantical- ly situated on the United States road, forty three miles west of Columbus, and seventy two north westwardly from Cincin- nati. It contains three thousand people and increases rapidly, in all respects.
ZANESVILLE, is situated seventy six miles from the Ohio river, following the meandering of the Muskingum river, on which the town stands. If we include Putnam and West Zanesville in our estimate, we may be allowed to say, that Zanesville now contains, seven thousand people. The old congress granted three sections of land, containing six hundred and forty acres each, to Ebenezer Zane, for marking a road from Wheeling across, what is now Ohio State, by the way of Zanesville. Zane marked the road, and for his pay, located one section, at Zanes- ville, and laid out a town on it; another section was located near " the standing rock" and Lancaster was located on that section. The other section was located opposite Chillicothe, on the north side of the Scioto river. Humphrey Fullerton bought the last named section of Zane, and his widow owns it now. The town of Zanesville was laid out in 1799, and a few cabins built. The mail had been carried along this " bridle path, " about two years before that period, on horse back, and so continued to be carried until about twenty years since.
The natural, as well as artificial advantages of Zanesville, are great. The Muskingum here creates a great water power in its rapids. Fossil coal is here in abundance, and the iron ore is equally so. Salt water, too, is in never failing abundance, here or in the vicinity. The United States road passes the Muskingum here, and manufactures of many kinds here flourish greatly.
The state has made a slack water navigation, from Zanesville to Dresden, on the canal, and the same power is employing its energies to complete this slackwater navigation to the Ohio river. This will be effected within four or five years. So c2*
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HISTOY OF OHIO.
that, with its salt water, its iron ore, and above all, its stirring, active, restless, enterprising population of seven thousand, in number, Zanesville bids fair to become, at no distant day, one of the largest manufacturing towns in the western states, con- taining seventy thousand people. The clays in this vicinity, equal any now used in England, France or Germany, for earth- enware, and we should not be disappointed, if Zanesville should be the very first town on this continent to firmly establish the manufacture of the real Liverpool ware, on the banks of the Muskingum river. The naturalist would find many things to interest him here; and the best place, which we know, wherein, to study our geology and mineralogy, is Zanesville. There is an Athenaeum and a well endowed school here, and there is a taste for science widely diffused among the people of this vici- nity. Freestone, limestone, and water lime, are here in abun- . dance, and finally, if Zanesville does not become, a great town, for an inland one, we do not see the cause of such a failure ..
All the elements of prosperity are here, and the very people- to use them to advantage, are already here, as a nucleus around which, a great manufacturing town will grow up ..
CLEVELAND, has been often alluded to already, in this work,. and we connot easily forget so important a town. It is so, from its position, from its natural advantages, and from its intelligent active, wealthy and enterprising population. Taking both sides of the river into view, Cleveland now contains, twelve thousand people, but in 1825, it contained only six hundred. It is delightfully situated on a high sandy bank of Lake Erie, seventy feet above the lake, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river and on both sides of the Erie and Ohio canal. In the summer season, while its port is crowded with its mercantile marine, of lake vessels, steamers and canal boats, Cleveland is a busy, bustling city. If we look off on the lake we see many a sail, spread to the breeze, on this beautiful inland water.
This town will soon run up to fifty thousand people, and for- ever, continue to be, an important inland city. The people here, have all the elements of prosperity, in or near the town; freestone for building, limestone,cedar and gypsum on
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CITIES AND TOWNS ..
the lake islands; iron ore and coal, in Tuscarawas county, on the canal; pine forests, in Canada, across the lake ; water power in abundance, in the river and in the canal; and a population as stirring, enterprising and industrious as any in the world.
TOLEDO, is near Lake Erie, on the Maumee river, and on what soon will be, the splendid Maumee canal. It was nothing three years since, but it now contains, three thousand people, who have made a rail road, thirty miles in length, leading in the direction of Lake Michigan at its southern end. This will necessarily become, one of our largest inland towns. It stands on the land for which we so long and so righteously con- tended with Michigan, who had not even a shadow of a claim to it, founded in justice.
DAYTON.
Of our other important towns, DAYTON, at the mouth of the Mad river, on the great Miami, claims a prominent and con- spicuous place, in our volume. It now contains, about seven thousand people, as good, as industrious and enterprising as any we have, in our state. The Dayton canal is now rapidly progressing towards the lake, along the Maumee river, al- though only one hundred miles of it are entirely finished, yet the remainder soon will be completed. The soil, far and wide, around Dayton, is as fertile as it can be, and there is a water power, in the Mad river and in the canal, very valuable. Day- ton must always be an important town. Manufactures flourish. There are now, in Dayton, two cotton factories, three grist mills, two saw mills, one silk mill, and all sorts of factories, where water power is employed by ingenious mechanics. And . the country all around Dayton is full of mills and factories.
NEWARK, in Licking county, on the Ohio and Erie canal, is located in a densely settled and most fertile country. The town itself contains now scarcely three thousand people, but from its position, on the canal, surrounded by a fertile country whose abundant produce, will always come here, Newark must always be a very important point for inland trade and
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
manufactures. It has, somehow, been badly treated: it has no bank, and the travel was taken from it, by locating the United States road, a few miles south of it. However, justice must be done to it soon, by the state, and by itself, as the people here want neither industry, capital nor energy. In this state we have no better citizens than are here, and the iron ore and coal, not far off, will not be overlooked by the people. The county is well watered, the land is excellent, and the farmers wealthy.
MOUNT VERNON is a delightful town, on Vernon river, and it is the shire town of Knox county. Here the land is excel- lent, the farmers are rich, and their farms are well cultivated. Mount Vernon is in the exact centre of the state. Kenyon college is at Gambier, five miles from Mount Vernon. This town will one day become a very important one, when a canal shall be made along Vernon river to the Ohio canal. That very improvement, alone, would make this town, a place of considerable business, with a population of seven thousand people.
STEUBENVILLE .- The shire town of Jefferson county, stands on the Ohio river, some thirty eight miles in a direct line, from Pittsburgh. Its population is only about three thous- and, but they are increasing. It has always been a manufac- turing town, and always will be one. The people here have been badly represented, quite too often, in the legislature. They have often opposed the policy of the state, like Belmont county, and they now feel the direful effects of such represen- tation.
The same may be said of NEW LISBON, but that town is now, ra- pidly rising, beside its canal, now progressing to a completion.
WARREN has always voted wisely, for internal improvements, but some how, has not been well treated by the state; but that time is past, a canal is now making past Warren, which will rise up into considerable importance, in the old county of Trum- bull, so well settled and improved, by as good a population, as we have in the state.
PORTAGE county contains three or four towns, along the Cuya-
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CITIES AND TOWNS.
hoga river, which we have noticed under head of rivers. This county, eventually, will be one of the most populous in the state.
All along the Erie and Ohio canal, towns are springing into life, and no description, can be correct, one month, which was so, one month before. And a volume could not describe them and our work forbids even the attempt to do so.
PORTSMOUTH was laid out in 1805, on the northern elevated bank of the Ohio, at the mouth of the Scioto river, in latitude ' 38° 43' north, by Henry Massie, Esquire. The Ohio and Erie canal terminates here, three hundred and nine miles in length. The bottom on which it stands, is sufficiently spacious for a population of fifty, or even of one hundred thousand inhabi- tants, though at present it contains only about three thousand. The surface of the town is four hundred and seventy feet above the ocean, and ninety-four, below the surface of lake Erie. To persons passing along on the Ohio river, the aspect of the town, with its factories, large, substantial and handsome stores, dwelling houses and churches, produces a pleasing effect. A splendid new court house and jail, four churches, a market house, thirty stores, two large taverns, and several boarding houses, a printing office, and a banking house, are among the buildings of Portsmouth. Within twenty five miles of this place on the southeast, and east of it, are twenty-five blast furnaces for the manufacture of iron. Besides these, there are six water forges. There is also a rolling mill in the town itself, owned by Thomas Gaylord and company.
The iron thus manufactured, near Portsmouth, is worth now, two millions of dollars annually, and is increasing rapid- ly, in amount and value. Goods are sold here, annually to the amount of four hundred thousand dollars, besides a large amount of commission business. The total value of the produc- tions of Scioto county, annually, is about one million of dollars. These productions have been constantly and rapidly increas- ing, especially during the last four years. This town must soon be among our largest manufacturing and mercantile cities of the western states, and so continue to be forever. It is now im-
44
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
proving rapidly, like Circleville, while from the depression of business, other towns improve slowly, or are not improving at the present time.
XENIA, in Green county, is among our older towns. Its lo- cation is on elevated ground, and the country around it is well watered, high, dry and healthful. Xenia is the seat of justice for the county. It contains some fifteen hundred in- habitants, who live well, work hard, and are healthy, moral, prosperous and happy. Located on no large river, nor near any canal, this town, almost as old as the state, is not as large as it otherwise would be. But a rail road will pass through it, and a turnpike road likewise, when Xenia will become a larger town. The county of Greene is one of the best water- ed ones for farmers, in the state. Its soil is excellent. Fruit trees do well, and cattle, sheep and horses, are easily raised by the farmers, in great numbers. The wheat is excellent,. which this county produces, so of the grass and corn. On the whole, we know of no portion of this state, more desira- ble to live in, than this. For pure springs, clear pellucid streams, and healthfulness of climate, this county vies with our very best ones in the state. The people who live in it, are a friendly, industrious and intelligent population. Major James Galloway, whose name is honorably mentioned in our history of the late war, belonged to Xenia, and his troops went from here, and in this county. For love of country, and devotion to our institutions, the people of this region have none more. ardent to contend with in the race of patriotism. The exer- tions now making to improve their condition will effect their object. When the rail road is made, the owner of produce can take it to Cincinnati, sell it, get his pay for it and be at home again to supper. Now it takes him six days, at no small expense for carriage in wagons.
But we are aware that this article is devoted rather more to topography than is consistent with our work, and that this subject is better treated in the Ohio Gazetteer, just published by Warren Jenkins, Esquire. To that volume we respectful- ly refer all our readers. Our principal reason for touching
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CITIES AND TOWNS.
this subject is the connection which exists between thesc towns, their citizens and the events, described in our history. From in and about these towns went our soldiers to war with England. And the people of these towns have governed the state, and still have a great influence on its destiny.
In our older towns where there are not so many new buildings erecting in them, and so many improvements making, a stranger might believe them to be much older than they are. In each city or town, there are a court house and jail, and buildings for the county offices-for the clerk of the courts, for the auditor, sheriff, treasurer, recorder and sometimes for the county commissioners and state's attorney. All these are commodious and handsome structures. The streets are paved and there is a handsome market house in many, and indeed, all the cites and towns mentioned by us. The churches are numerous, and sometimes spacious and even handsome build- ings. The side walks are well paved and there are many other marks of older towns than they are. The stores are or- namented with goods, tastefully displayed, to attract attention.
These towns have two or more market days in the week, when the crowd of citizens and market people, present a busy, bustling aspect. The long row of wagons, carts and drays, reminds one of an eastern city, on a market morning. This is Ohio now, happily contrasting with the past, only a few years since. Our towns have grown up rather too rapidly for the country around them, and marketing of all sorts is ra- ther dear, for so new a country, whose soil is so fertile. Our farmers, obtain such high prices for all they produce, that their wives and daughters, neither spin nor weave much cloth, so they go to the store for their clothes. Cows are not kept in very large numbers, and but little cheese is made in most of the counties. Butter, too, is rather scarce and dear. Fowls are becoming dear-one dollar a dozen! Eggs once but four cents a dozen, are now six and even eight cents a dozen. Other articles are equally dear. In one particular our towns are doing well in cultivating our own native trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The soil and climate suit them,
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
and they are handsomer, more thrifty and in all respects preferable to any exotics. Our three species of sumac are handsome shrubs which never grow too large for a shade near the house.
Among the flowers, natives of this state, the Phlox family of many species, of every color almost, coming one after an- other, in the season, from spring to autumn, are becoming fa- vorites. Among the most singular ones, the black flower claims attention. But, the time would fail us, as well as the reader's patience, to tell of all the trees and plants now being naturalized and transplanted into our gardens, court yards, side walks and pleasure grounds. Under the head of Botany, the reader can see what Cincinnati has done in this way. Since this taste for cultivating our own native plants has be- gun to prevail among us, our towns have assumed a better ap- pearance. Our prairie flowers will soon be gone, and lost to the world, unless they are domesticated. Many of them are among the most beautiful and curious in the world. Let us hope that they may be saved from destruction.
Most of the towns have reading rooms, where a traveler can read all the principal newspapers and periodicals. Libra- ries are increasing in number as well as in size, every where in the state, and useful knowledge is spreading. "The school master is" not "abroad" in this state, but at home, at his daily task, teaching the youth of our towns, at their homes, or in our schools.
THE NUMBER OF OUR POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS AND REMARKS ON ITS PROBABLE INCREASE IN FUTURE.
By estimation, in
1791,
3,000 people.
Official,
1800,
42,156
-
Do.
1810,
230,760
Do.
1820,
586,000
Do
1830,
937,679
By estimation,
1837,
1,600,000
By the same ratio of increase, we shall have 2,000,000 in 1840.
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POPULATION.
At the conclusion of Wayne's War, many of his soldiers set- tled in the country. Before that time, from 1787 to 1791, the increase in numbers was almost nothing; but that war ending in 1795, the population increased rapidly, as will be seen. So, immediately after the conclusion of the war with England, the increase was rapid; but from 1817 up to the time of commencing our works of internal improvement, in 1825, the increase was comparatively at a stand. The demand for labor, its high price, the low prices of food, with the prospect of being enabled to purchase good farms for what could, by each, be earned in a year or two, by laboring on our canals, induced thousands to immigrate from the East to this country, where there was so little winter to provide for in the summer, by the farmer. These were inducements sufficient to draw into our State vast numbers of young laboring men, who wished to see more of the world, and find a home for themselves and for their posterity. Our population at present, we have reason for believing, increases at the rate of one hundred thousand, a year. In November 1836, we gave two hundred and five thousand votes for Pre- sident, showing an increase in four years of forty thousand votes. The excitement was not great, as it was clearly fore- seen what the resultmust be, between voting for WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON and MARTIN VAN BUREN, SO far as this state was concerned.
It may be supposed, that when our wild lands are all sold, our population will not increase in the same ratio as it has done hitherto. It may be supposed, too, that emigration to the West, from Ohio, will be great; but we think that such is the fertility of our soil, such the mineral treasures found in our hilly region, and the call for labor on our Roads and Canals, for which we shall continue, for ages to come, to pay out mil- lions of dollars annually, that vast numbers will be drawn from all the eastern states, into this. In a country where industry of all sorts is better rewarded than in any other; where pro- visions must always be cheaper and more abundant than in states which purchase their provisions of us, and then transport them a distance, and there sell them, making a profit on their
D2
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HISTORY OF OHIO.
business. There are other considerations, not to be overlook. ed in this estimate-we have no slaves in this State; and in- stead of being disgraceful, labor is honored by all, here. To laboring men, this will always continue to be an inducement to come here, from all the eastern states. Although our in- stitutions, of all sorts, are not yet what we wish them to be, nor what they will be, yet they are decidedly better than they are in any of our western states. Our country, as it respects health, is no longer new-it is as healthful as New England, perhaps even more so, at present.
As to emigration from this state, it has all along been one of the most emigrating states in the Union. A majority of the people in Indiana, went there from Ohio. So of Illinois. On no route through the settled parts of those states, could we now travel, without meeting, every where, old friends and ac- quaintances from Ohio. We saw them there every where, when in their settlements in 1829. Men, with small farms here, emi- grate, and soon own large ones where they go; but, when the farm is sold here, it is transferred to some man immediately from some eastern state, who comes here to better his condi- tion. Eastern men can get along here, very well; but our Ohio people do best in Indiana and Illinois. Their previous training has fitted them to endure and overcome all the hard- ships incident to a new country-such as a want of mills, roads, schools, good physicians, and the thousand advantages of an older settlement: but suffering, as they must, from the sick- ness, want of good society, without a school for their children, without a physician to heal them when sick, and without a minister of religion to console them amidst their multitude of afflictions of all sorts, we envy not our old friends, in newer countries than this. We wish them well, and pray for their suc- cess, in their new abodes. May God bless them! Many are the tears which they have shed, when they remembered Ohio, and our thousand comforts, compared with their present condi- tion. We have seen them here, and we have seen them where they are; and our tears flowed for them and their children.
To speculate upon our future increase in population, may
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POPULATION.
De condemned. We care not; because the future is revealed to us, provided Providence permit it to be so. We certainly possess within our territory all the means of greatness-in our people, their habits of industry and enterprise; in our relative position in the Union; in our mild climate; our fertile soil; in our internal improvements, going onward with a giant's strides; in our freedom from domestic slavery ; in our State pride and patriotism; in our love of liberty and abhorrence of slavery ; in the ample provision which we have made, are making, and will make, to educate the rising generation; in our healthful- ness, physically and morally; in our mineral wealth, greater than any other country on earth, of its size, can boast. We envy not those who possess the silvery heights of Potosi, the mines of Golconda and Peru, while we possess the soil of Ohio, the mines of Ohio, the free institutions of Ohio, the people of Ohio, and Ohio's temperate and healthful climate. We see nothing, now, to prevent us from having a population of two millions in 1840, three millions in 1850, and of five millions in 1860. Ohio has all the elements necessary to sustain twelve millions of people; and that number is not a large estimate for 1937. That Ohio is eventually destined to be the very first state in this Union, in numbers, wealth and power, we cannot doubt. We envy not any of our eastern states-nor do we doubt, that the wealthy men there, may wish to keep their labor- ing people where they are, to work for a mere trifle for them; but why those who are poor, and have feet and hands, and can use them, should tarry where they are, we do marvel, while they can walk here with their legs, and when here, can acquire with their hands, independent fortunes for themselves and, their children.
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